Findlay, Ohio – The University of Findlay baseball team wrapped up a four-game series against Lake Erie College with a doubleheader sweep on Sunday, April 26. The two wins today completed a four-game series sweep over the Storm and give the Oilers a record of 31-15 (22-6 Great Midwest Athletic Conference). Findlay's 31 wins this season are now just one shy of the program record and the team remains in first place in the G-MAC North Division, two games ahead of Ashland who swept Northwood this weekend.
Game 1 (W 2-1)
Findlay defeated Lake Erie 2-1 in a thrilling series opener that came down to the final play.
Lake Erie took a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning, but the Oilers responded to tie the game in the bottom of the fifth thanks to an infield single by Aiden Booth.
The game went into the bottom of the seventh inning deadlocked at 1-1, setting the stage for a dramatic walk-off finish. Keelan Daniel started the rally by drawing a walk, and Isaac Ramos was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second.
Drew Tucker then executed a bunt single to the pitcher, loading the bases with no outs.
The decisive moment came when Aiden Booth put the ball in play, reaching on a fielder's choice. During the play, a throwing error by the Lake Erie shortstop allowed Daniel to cross the plate, giving the Oilers a 2-1 walk-off victory.
The Findlay pitching staff was stellar throughout the contest, limiting the Storm to just one run on one hit and giving the offense the chance to complete the late-game comeback.
Starting pitcher Aidan Kiessling, now 5-4 on tthe year, had a career game, throwing all seven innings and limiting LEC to just the one run, which was unearned. He allowed just one hit and struck out ten, a career high.
Game 2 (W 4-2)
In the series finale, Findlay battled through another tight contest to secure a 4-2 win.
The game was a true pitcher's duel early on, with neither team able to generate much offense. Findlay finally scratched across a single run in the fifth inning to break the scoreless tie.
Lake Erie pushed back in the top of the seventh, scoring two runs to take a 2-1 lead and put the pressure squarely on the Oilers.
Trailing late, Findlay mounted a response in the bottom of the seventh. Mason Myers sparked the offense with a leadoff double to right-center and advanced to third on a throwing error by the pitcher during a failed pickoff attempt.
After Aiden Booth was hit by a pitch, pinch-hitter Isaac Ramos delivered a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Myers to tie the game at 2-2.
Drew Tucker then changed the game. With Booth on second, Tucker launched a go-ahead two-run home run to left field, giving the Oilers a 4-2 advantage that they would not relinquish.
Drew Tucker provided the definitive spark for the offense with his game-changing home run, while Mason Myers' extra-base hit and heads-up baserunning set the stage for the dramatic rally.
The Findlay pitching staff shut the door in the final frames, capping off an impressive weekend on the mound and securing the four-game series sweep.
Junior David Jimenez was dealing on the hill, throwing 6.0 innings without allowing a run. He surrendered just three hits and struck out nine in a no-decision. The win went to Camdon Tuttle who came out of the bullpen and threw a couple of innings. Senior Colin Becker came out of the bullpen to earn his eighth save of the year. He did not allow a hit and struck out two of the five batters he faced.
Findlay will play its decisive final series of the year against Northwood on Thursday and Friday, April 30 - May 1.
