Findlay, Ohio – The University of Findlay baseball team took firm control in the North Division of the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) on Saturday, April 11, sweeping a doubleheader against Ashland University which began the day in second in the division behind the Oilers. Findlay won the opener 6-1 before snagging another low scoring affair in the nightcap by a score of 3-1. The two wins give the Oilers a record of 24-11 with a 15-3 mark in league play while Ashland drops to 21-13 overall and 10-8 in the G-MAC.
This marks the first time since 2008 that Findlay has won both games of a doubleheader against the Eagles.
Game 1 (W 6-1)
Ashland struck first with a run in the top of the first inning, but it would be the only mark in the run column for the Eagles in the series opener.
The Oilers immediately responded with a run in the bottom half of the frame when junior Nick Palm led off with a single, stole second, and later scored on a passed ball.
Findlay took the lead for good with a single run in the second inning, then expanded their advantage with two runs in the fourth and two final insurance runs in the eighth.
Starting pitcher senior Ethan Mohr earned the win, improving to 4-1 on the season. Mohr pitched 7.0 innings, allowing just one earned run on three hits while striking out five batters. Senior Colin Becker pitched two scoreless innings in relief to earn his fourth save of the year.
Offensively, Nick Palm led the way with three hits while Isaac Ramos and Drew Tucker, the reigning G-MAC North Player of the Week, had two hits. Ramos scored three runs and stole two bases, while Tucker added two runs scored and two stolen bases.
Game 2 (W 3-1)
Findlay opened the scoring with a run in the bottom of the second inning, but Ashland escaped a much worse situation as the Oilers, who had the bases loaded with no outs, scored just the single run, stranding three on base.
Ashland returned the favor, however, leaving the bases loaded in the third, but tying the game at 1-1.
The deciding frame came in the bottom of the fifth inning of the seven-inning affair. Again loading the bases with no outs, Gavyn Smith and Mason Myers delivered back-to-back sacrifice flies, pushing two runs across the plate to give Findlay a 3-1 lead.
The current G-MAC North and Midwest Region Pitcher of the Week tossed another impressive outing to improve to 5-1 on the year. Mellott pitched 4.2 innings, allowing one run on four hits while striking out three. Mellott outdueled Ashland's ace Drew Becker who suffered his first loss of the season, falling to 4-1. Camdon Tuttle entered from the bullpen to record the final seven outs, tossing 2.1 scoreless innings and striking out two to earn his second save of the season.
The two teams will wrap up the four-game set tomorrow, Sunday, April 12 with the first contest starting at 1:00 pm.
