Box Score Ypsilanti, Mich. (May 8, 2007) ???C Oakland???s baseball team defeated Eastern Michigan for the second time in two days when it took a 3-2 victory from the Eagles at Oestrike Stadium this afternoon. Junior Dustin Joffrion (Otsego, Mich.) led the Golden Grizzlies from the plate, going 2-4 with an RBI. Oakland loaded the bases in both the first and second innings but was unable to bring anyone home. The Eagles took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second with a bases-loaded sacrifice fly by Aaron Crooks. With runners on second and third the Eagles attempted a double steal, but senior catcher Kevin Carkeek (Arlington Heights, Ill.) tagged Robert Wendzicki coming in from third to end the inning. The Golden Grizzlies scored a run in the top of the third to even the game 1-1. Sophomore Rob Merkle (Bay City, Mich.) singled to left field, then reached third on two separate failed pickoff attempts. Joffrion drove Merkle home with a single to left later in the inning. EMU knotted the game 2-2 in the bottom of the fifth inning. After loading the bases with a bunt single by Todd Graves and two walks, Andrew Marshall hit a sacrifice fly to deep center to bring home Kyle Rhoad from third. The game remained tied until the top of the eighth inning when OU brought home a run to regain the lead 3-2. Freshman Tony Fazi (Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich.) led off the inning with a single, then sophomore Justin Wilson (Blissfield, Mich.) reached base on a fielder???s choice. Wilson stole second, then advanced to third on a fly out to deep center field by senior Ryan Heath (Ostrander, Ohio). Sophomore Andrew Stafford (Sterling Heights, Mich.) belted a single to left center to drive Wilson home and give OU the 3-2 edge. Derek Lehrman and Michael Boyd hit back-to-back singles to lead off the bottom of the eighth for the Eagles. Both moved into scoring position when Steve Bradshaw laid down a sacrifice bunt, but junior LHP Matt Traush (Charlotte, Mich.) retired the next two batters with a strikeout and a ground out to avert the threat. Both teams were set aside in order in the ninth inning and Oakland held on for the 3-2 win. Freshman LHP Kasey Kearcher (Otsego, Mich.) earned his first career start for Oakland, giving up five hits, one earned run and five walks while striking out three in four innings. He was relieved by freshman LHP Jake Arendsen (Zeeland, Mich.), who scattered one hit, one earned run, two walks and one strike out in three innings to earn the win. Trausch was credited with the save as he gave up two hits and struck out one in two innings. Corey Chaffins started for EMU, surrendering seven hits, two unearned runs and four walks while fanning five in six innings. Dan Puls was charged with the loss, giving up two hits, one earned run and one walk while striking out one in three innings. Oakland returns to action Friday when it hosts Valparaiso for the first game in a four-game Mid-Continent Conference series at OU Baseball Field at 3:00 p.m.