ROCHESTER, Mich. ???C Sophomore catcher Angela Righetti went 2-for-3, and juniors Caitin Lynch (1-3) and Roberta Ches (1-2) each drove in runs, but South Dakota State University (15-24, 8-7 Summit) scored two unearned runs in the third inning to upend Oakland University (13-18, 5-8 Summit), 4-2, in Summit League softball action on Saturday at the OU Softball Field.

???It???s always difficult to look at the big picture after a loss,??? said head coach Glenn MacDonald. ???We did some nice things this weekend and to finally win a series, is nice, but it???s obvious we still have work to do. I???m proud of the way we fought back today, but we did not have the edge we needed to start the game and it showed with them jumping on top of us 4-0.???

Junior Jessica Granger (9-13) got the start in the circle for the Golden Grizzlies, working 2.1 innings, allowing four hits, four runs, two earned runs and walked one. Freshman Alison Tansel (1-1) was solid in relief, tossing 4.2 strong innings, allowing five hits, no runs and fanned three.

SDSU???s Jenna Marston went the distance for the third straight game, scattering seven hits, allowing two earned runs and striking out one. She carried a no-hitter in to the fifth inning.

Freshman Alyssa Deacon, senior Alex Perrino and sophomore Audrey Sabourin each had hits for the Golden Grizzlies. Brittany Postma led the Jackrabbits, going 3-for-4, while Stacey Evans finished 2-for-3, with two runs batted in.

The Jackrabbits posed the first threat of the game in the top of the second inning, with a leadoff walk and fielder???s choice that OU could not get the runner out at second base as runners were at first and second with one out. A ground ball to first base advanced the runners to second and third, and Evans had a 16-pitch at bat that ended with a bloop single to left field that scored two runs as Oakland went down 2-0.

Defense continued to haunt the Grizzlies in the top of the third inning as SDSU???s Postma singled up the middle and reached second base on an attempted steal that the OU shortstop missed a throw which had her dead to rights. She then advanced to third base on a bunt single by Jessica Vineyard and SDSU had runners at second and third with one out after a stolen base. Ashley Durazo then singled up the middle to score a run and the Jacks scored another as the OU catcher missed the throw from center field to home plate as the Grizzlies went down by four, 4-0.

The Golden Grizzlies showed a little life at the plate in the bottom half of the third inning, but got nothing to show for it as the SDSU center fielder made two nice catches, one in the left-center gap and another over her head in center, and the pitcher deflected a line drive that was whistling into center field but went to the shortstop who fielded it and threw over to first base in time to preserve the no hitter.

The Jacks flashed the leather again in the fourth inning, recording two line drive outs before Marston induced a weak pop out to first base to retire the side.

A swinging bunt single by Sam Heinzman and a single through the right side by Postma had the Jacks at first and second with no outs in the top of the fifth inning. OU???s Tansel came up strong with a strikeout, ground out to first base and fly out to right field to keep the Grizzlies down by just four.

The Grizzlies??? Righetti broke up Marston???s no-hit bid in the fifth inning on a soft liner to center field with one out, but the Grizzlies could not manage anything else as the game moved to the sixth inning with SDSU still on top 4-0.

OU finally broke through in the bottom of the sixth inning with a two out double by Lynch that scored Deacon who reached on a single to third base as the lead was cut to three. Ches then smashed a ground ball up the middle that went off the second baseman and into center field to plate Lynch as the Golden Grizzlies only trailed by two, 4-2.

Righetti singled to the shortstop to start the seventh inning and Perrino singled to left field as runners were at first and second with no outs. Sophomore Ashley Sullivan then layed down a perfect bunt to third base and the throw was muffed at first base by the SDSU second baseman, but she recovered to throw Righetti out at home plate for the first out of the inning.

Another base running blunder cost OU on the next play as the Jacks recorded the second out on a tag from third base to leave runners at first and second with two outs. Marston then recorded the final out on a grounder to second base as SDSU took the third and final game of the series.

Oakland scored two runs, on seven hits and committed two errors, while SDSU scored four runs, on nine hits and had one error.

The Golden Grizzlies will host in-state foe Central Michigan this Tuesday, April 22, at the OU Softball Field. The doubleheader is scheduled to start at 3 p.m.

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