Mason, Ohio - The University of Findlay baseball team dominated Hillsdale College with an 11-0 shutout victory in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) Tournament Pool Play final on Friday, May 8 at Legacy Field. With the decisive win, Findlay advances to tomorrow's G-MAC Championship game. This will mark just the third conference title appearance in the NCAA era of the program, and the first since 2008 (the other coming in 2005).
The Oilers completely overwhelmed Hillsdale from start to finish in the shortened seven-inning affair, fueled by a powerful offense and a dominant pitching performance.
Findlay established early control in the bottom of the first inning. After Casey Maruniak was hit by a pitch and Luke Senften drew a walk, Gavyn Smith delivered an RBI double to left-center to put the Oilers on the board. Mason Myers followed with a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring Senften to give Findlay a quick 2-0 advantage.
The game broke wide open in the bottom of the third inning when the Oilers erupted for a massive eight-run frame. Luke Senften started the rally with a double, and Gavyn Smith quickly brought him home with an RBI single to right field. Mason Myers kept the line moving with an RBI double of his own, scoring Smith. Later in the inning, Mike Sciortino ripped a two-run single to left field to bring home Drew Tucker and Myers. Casey Maruniak capped scoring with a three-run blast
Findlay added one final insurance run in the fourth inning to cap the scoring at 11-0.
On the mound, starting pitcher Aidan Kiessling was spectacular. Kiessling completely shut down the Hillsdale offense, earning the win to improve his record to 7-4 on the season. He tossed 5.1 scoreless innings, allowing just three hits while striking out eight batters and walking only two. The bullpen was just as good. Connor Evanich entered in relief in the sixth to record a strikeout, and Sebastian Stevens pitched a perfect seventh inning with three groundouts to secure the run-rule shutout and send the Oilers to the championship game.
That contest will be played tomorrow at Prasco Park in Mason, Ohio with the Oilers' opponent yet to be determined. They will face the winner of the other pool play final which features Kentucky Wesleyan, coming out of the winner's bracket, and Ashland University, which is needs to defeat KWC twice to make a trip to the title game.
