Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 (Game 2 Finished on April 20 | Recap Update At Bottom)
Findlay, Ohio- The University of Findlay softball team dropped an 8-6 decision to Ashland in a weather-shortened series on Thursday, March 26. With game two suspended, the Oilers fall to 18-8 overall and 3-2 in Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) play, while Ashland improves to 16-9 on the season and remains unbeaten at 5-0 in league action.
Both teams were held scoreless through the first two innings before Ashland broke through with a big top of the third, plating six runs, including three unearned following a pair of Findlay errors.
After scoreless fourth and fifth innings, Findlay began to chip away in the sixth. Senior Annika Bredel launched a home run and sophomore Meghan Heinsman added an RBI groundout to make it 6-2. Ashland responded in the top of the seventh with two runs to extend its lead to 8-2.
The Oilers made a late push in the bottom of the seventh. Freshman Kaylynn Carter sparked the rally with her first collegiate home run to cut the deficit to 8-3. Three straight singles then loaded the bases before a fielder's choice recorded the first out. Freshman Sophie Retton followed with a double to left center, driving in two to bring Findlay within three at 8-5. Heinsman then delivered another double to left center to score two more, trimming the margin to 8-6. However, back-to-back outs ended the rally with two runners left on base, securing the win for Ashland.
Retton and Heinsman paced the offense with two RBI each, as both tallied extra-base hits. Bredel, Carter, and senior Jenna Poulson also contributed at the plate, each going 2-for-4.
Senior Kora Navarro took the loss in the circle after working the first two innings, allowing five runs on three hits to fall to 3-1 on the season. Kaylynn Carter went the final five innings in relief, surrendering three runs on four hits.
Findlay may have the opportunity to resume game two of the doubleheader, with the Oilers trailing 5-3 in the top of the fifth. A makeup plan has not yet been announced.
As scheduled, the Oilers will hit the road on Sunday, March 29 for a matchup in Painesville, Ohio against the Lake Erie College Storm. First pitch is set for 12 p.m. and 2 p.m.
April 20 Update
Findlay, Ohio – The University of Findlay softball team concluded a game against Ashland University on Monday, April 20, dropping the contest by a score of 6-4. The two teams originally began play back on March 26 before lightning forced the game to be halted. The game had big conference tournament implications as the two teams entered the day tied for second in the league. The loss gives Findlay a 32-11 record and a 15-5 mark in Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) play while Ashland moves into solo second in the league now at 27-13 (16-4 G-MAC).
With the game now officially completed, senior Annika Bredel continued to stamp her name in the record book with another historic mark. The game was the 194th of her career, establishing a new program record for games played, surpassing the previous mark set by Avery Shepherd who played from 2021-24.
The two teams resumed play in the top of the fifth inning with Ashland holding a 5-3 lead. Senior Kayla Dykin, Findlay's original starter in the game, was entered back into the game and began Monday's continuation in the circle.
A walk, hit by pitch, and infield single loaded the bases with two outs before another walk sent a run home to make it 6-3.
Findlay did answer when senior Alexys Antal singled and was driven in on a ball off the fence by freshman Jenna Dee. She was stranded there, however, and the score remained 6-4 heading into the sixth.
Ashland left two runners on base in the top of the sixth but, the Oilers offense was stymied the rest of the way, failing to produce a base runner in the final two frames.
In the circle, Dykin suffered the loss, allowing six runs, all earned, on ten hits. She struck out one. Kaylynn Carter, Kora Navarro, and Alexys Antal all had time in the circle in the contest.
At the plate, Jenna Dee went 2-for-3 with a double on Monday and a home run from back on March 26 when the game began. She finished with three RBI and a run scored. Annika Bredel had a double in the game while Antal logged a single rounding out Findlay's four hits in the contest.
Findlay now eyes a date with the Cedarville Yellow Jackets on Friday, April 24 in Cedarville, Ohio to begin the final weekend of regular-season play.
