FINDLAY, Ohio - Lake Superior State softball fell to Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference foe Findlay during a two-game set on Saturday at Anderson Field in Findlay, Ohio. The Lakers (4-16, 0-4 GLIAC) scored just one run in each contest with four hits during both games.
Game 1
In Game 1, the Lakers fell 9-1 in a shortened five-inning contest after only managing four hits as a team. The Oilers (18-8, 4-0 GLIAC) opened the game with a three-run home run by Kelley Cejer in the bottom of the first inning.
LSSU scored their only run in the top half of the second inning with an RBI single by starting pitcher Alyssa Boucher (L, 1-4). Kylie Durre tripled to right center field to open the inning and scored on the single by Boucher. Hailey Bryan (W, 6-5) got through the rest of the inning unscathed to maintain the 3-1 lead.
The Oilers added a run in the bottom of the third and took a commanding lead with five runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to put the game out of reach.
Taylor Steinhelper and Carly Banchiu each went 1-for-2 to deliver the only other hits for the Lakers as Bryan pitched the full five innings allowing four hits and one earned run to deliver her sixth win of the season.
Brooke Scherger went 3-for-3 with two runs and an RBI in the lead off spot for the Oilers. Cejer finished 2-for-4 with four RBIs and scored two runs.
Game 2
The Lakers played as the home team in the second game, but fell 6-1 while mustering only four hits for the second consecutive contest.
After Findlay opened the scoring with two runs in the top of the second inning, the Lakers cut the lead with a run in the bottom half of the second. Durre led off the inning with a double, her second extra base hit of the day, and advanced to third as Katey Hendershott dropped a sacrifice bunt during the next at bat. Teryn Williams then slapped a single up the middle to score Durre with one out in the inning. Williams finished the second game 2-for-3 with an RBI during the second game.
Starting pitcher Riley Durbano (L, 2-7) followed Williams with another single through the middle of the infield to give the Lakers a pair of base runners and only one out. Freshman Kelsey Mader dropped down a sacrifice bunt that advanced Williams and Durbano, but the Lakers were unable to find the tying run as Jenna Inman got the final out and escape any further damage.
Chelsea McManaway (W, 11-1) pitched the final five innings, striking out 14 LSSU batters along the way while allowing just one hit and a walk. The only out that McManaway failed to register a strikeout came on a ground out at she scooped and fired to first base.
The Oilers scored two more runs in both the top of the fourth and top of the seventh innings to quell any come-back attempts by the Lakers.
The Lakers hit the road again on Tuesday, March 29 when the face Northwood at 3:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.