Findlay Sweeps Double Header vs. SVSU Earning Second Straight GLIAC Series Win
Box Score
The University of Findlay baseball team swept their series opening double header vs. Saginaw Valley State University on Tuesday, April 1st in Findlay, OH. They took the first game by a final of 10-8 and held on in the night-cap, winning 8-5. The wins push Findlay's record to 8-12 and 5-5 in Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) play.
GAME 1:
It was April 1st but the Oilers offense was no joke as the bats came alive in the first game of the three-game set. Findlay scored double-digit runs for the first time since March 11th en route to their 10-8 victory.
The home team jumped out to an early lead as they scored two runs in the bottom of inning number one. The inning began with a walk to leadoff man, Jordan Garcia, who then advanced on a sac bunt from Kevin Schrock. Reid Rothenbuhler laced a double, scoring Garcia for the first run of the game. Rothenbuhler later scored when the next batter, Derek Draper, singled putting the Oilers ahead 2-0 after one.
Saginaw Valley State answered with their own offensive thrust in the top of inning number two as they touched up Findlay starter Mason Mayberry for four runs on four hits. With one out in the inning and runners on first and second with one out, A.J. Cecil entered the game on the mound and forced a 4-6-3 double play, ending the half-inning and limiting the damage.
The Oilers big offensive inning of the game came in the bottom of the third inning. Garcia and Schrock were both hit by pitches to begin the inning. Draper then doubled, scoring Garcia. Joe Sickler picked up an RBI on a groundout and was followed by an Austin Adams single through the right side of the infield, scoring one. Michael Louis then laced a single to right, plating Adams, but Louis was thrown out trying to take an extra base, ending the inning. When the dust had settled, the Oilers were ahead 6-4, a lead they would not relinquish.
Findlay's struck it big again in the bottom of the fourth. Tyler Donaldson began with a walk and was followed by a single from Garcia, moving Donaldson to third. After an RBI groundout from Schrock and fly out, Draper singled to center, driving in a run, and advanced all the way to third on an error by the center fielder. Sickler then singled through the box into center field, scoring Draper and pushing the lead to 9-4.
SVSU scored one run in the top of the fifth, bringing them to within a run at 9-5, but Findlay answered with a run of their own in the bottom half when Peter Yorgen scored on a wild pitch and making the score 10-5.
The Cardinals scored three runs in the top of inning number six but Alex Williams came in, got the final two outs of the sixth and went 1-2-3 in the seventh, ending the game.
A.J. Cecil earned the win on the mound as he went 3.2 innings in relief while giving up four runs, two earned, on seven hits. He walked three.
Draper had a great game at the plate as he collected three hits, drove in three runs, and scored two runs.
Yorgen had two hits in the game and Garcia scored three runs.
GAME 2:
Just as they did in the first game, the Oilers scored in the bottom of the first inning of the night cap, but this time the damage was much worse for the Cardinals as they found themselves trailing 7-0 after the first.
The inning began with singles by Garcia and Schrock. Rothenbuhler then stepped to the plate and drove a ball over the right field fence for his first homerun of the season. But unfortunately for SVSU starter, David Freed, the offense was not done there. After a hit-by-pitch to Draper and double from Miguel Valdez, Yorgen singled through the left side of the infield, plating two runs. The remaining runs scored on a Donaldson double and sac fly from Garcia. The inning ended after seven runs on seven hits.
The Oilers added another run in the bottom of the third inning as Louis singled to start the inning then came around to score when the catcher, in a pickoff attempt, threw the ball into right field and all the way to the wall, allowing Louis to score from first. The Oilers led at this point 8-0.
That's all the offense Findlay needed.
Saginaw did make it a contest as they scored all five of their runs in the top of the fifth inning. They did so on four hits. They brought the score to 8-5 but they would not get any closer than that as that would end up being the final score.
Mike Steele earned his first win on the mound as he went 4.2 innings and gave up five runs on eight hits. He walked six and struck out three.
Schrock and Louis each picked up two hits for Findlay and Louis crossed the plate twice. Rothenbuhler's home run gave the third baseman three RBI in the game.
The Oilers will be back on the field for the conclusion of the series tomorrow at 1pm at Fifth Third Field.