Findlay, Ohio – The University of Findlay baseball team dropped both games of a doubleheader against Northwood University on Thursday, April 30. Northwood took the opener 10-3 before edging out the Oilers 1-0 in a tight pitcher's duel in the nightcap. Following the pair of losses, Findlay is now 31-17 overall and 22-8 in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC).
Despite the sweep, the Oilers control their own destiny. Findlay needs two wins tomorrow to clinch the G-MAC North Division and secure the #1 seed in next week's G-MAC Tournament. If they fail to secure the sweep tomorrow, the Oilers must await the outcome of the Ashland/Hillsdale series, which will be played on Friday and Saturday.
Game 1 (L 10-3)
Northwood came out swinging, taking control of the opener by jumping out to a quick 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning. The Timberwolves plated three more runs in the second inning to extend their advantage to a commanding 6-0.
Findlay attempted to answer back in the bottom of the third inning, scratching across two runs to cut the deficit to 6-2. However, Northwood immediately countered by adding single runs in the fourth and fifth innings, followed by a two-run frame in the sixth to effectively put the game out of reach. The Oilers managed one final run in the seventh, but the early hole was too deep to overcome in the 10-3 loss.
Offensively, the Oilers tallied 10 hits but struggled to string them together for big innings. Mason Myers highlighted the Findlay offense with three hits, including a triple, while Casey Maruniak added a double.
Game 2 (L 1-0) The second game of the doubleheader was a complete contrast to the opener, featuring a tight pitcher's duel where offense was at an absolute premium.
Both pitching staffs traded zeroes early on. Northwood finally broke the deadlock in the top of the fourth inning, pushing across a single run to take a 1-0 lead. As it turned out, that lone run was all the Timberwolves would need.
The Findlay offense was completely stifled by Northwood pitching throughout the seven-inning contest, managing only three hits and suffering a 1-0 shutout. Luke Senften, Gavyn Smith, and Aiden Booth provided the only hits for the Oilers in the nightcap.
Starter Carson Mellott was very good on the hill, throwing a complete game and allowing just a single run on four hits. He walked two and struck out two in the tough-luck loss, falling to 6-3 on the year.
The two teams will wrap up play tomorrow, May 1, with the first game beginning at 1:00 pm.
