Findlay Splits on Opening Day

Auburndale, Fla. – The University of Findlay baseball team got the season started with a split in a double-header against Notre Dame College to start the season with a 1-1 record.

Game 1 Box Score (L 3-0)

The Oilers' season began on a sour note as they were one-hit in their season opener. Falcons' pitcher Jake Welch did not give up a run and struck out eight hitters in seven innings pitched. That lone hit for Findlay came in the sixth inning when sophomore Josh Schwerer hit a double down the right field line.

Notre Dame got a pair of runs in the fourth inning and added another in the sixth which proved to be enough to get the victory.

Findlay got a solid outing from sophomore Colin Gossard. He went six innings and allowed three runs, two earned, on four hits. He struck out nine hitters in the game, a career high for Gossard.

Game 2 Box Score (W 3-2 (9 inn.) )

The second game was a grind-it-out type game and ended with a one-run victory for Findlay. Notre Dame struck first with a run in the bottom of the third but the Oilers answered right back with one in the top of the fourth.

With one out, Schwerer smoked a ball to left center field. Instead of strolling into second base for a sure double, the sophomore took a chance and pushed for a triple. In doing so, he forced the Falcons' short stop to make a tough relay and he overthrew the third basemen, throwing the ball into the Oilers' dugout, allowing Schwerer to score and tie the game.

The seventh inning came and went and the game reached extra innings. Pitching dominated until the top of the ninth when the Oilers struck again.

With a runner on second base and one out, sophomore Anthony Ondrejcak came in to pinch hit and delivered with a single through the right side, however, a strong throw from the right fielder cut the runner down at the plate. Ondrejcak was pulled for pinch runner Brendan Phillips who came around to score when sophomore Cameron Johnson rolled a ball to the Falcons' third baseman who aired the ball into the Notre Dame bullpen. Two pitches later, Johnson scored on a wild pitch giving the Oilers a 3-1 lead.

The Falcons did get an unearned run in the bottom of the ninth off closer AJ Cecil, but that was all the damage they would do as Cecil got a strikeout with the tying run on second base to earn his first save of the year.

Schwerer ended the game with two hits and a run scored.

Starting pitcher Austin Rodesky turned in a career outing as he struck out 12 hitters in eight innings. He only allowed one run on six hits.

Findlay will be back on the diamond tomorrow when they take on Lewis University at 11:30 am. That game will be live on the Findlay Oilers youtube page at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XuS4yzy-80s .