March 21, 2009

Box Score

LANSING, Mich. - Senior Justin Wilson and sophomore Tommy Jablonski both picked up two hits, but it was not enough for the Oakland University baseball team (5-10), as Michigan State scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh to break a tie and push the Spartans (5-14) over the top, as MSU took a 9-6 decision over Oakland on Sunday at Oldsmobile Park.

Senior Dan Ryan put OU on the board with a solo homer in the top of the first inning, but the Spartans put together a big first inning for the consecutive day, jumping out to a 4-1 lead after one inning of play. The Golden Grizzlies cut the MSU lead to 4-2 after the top of the third when Wilson scored on a wild pitch.

In the fourth inning, OU pulled to within 4-3 after an error by the Spartans, and the Golden Grizzlies knotted the game at 4-4 in the sixth inning on an RBI grounder by freshman Tim Ryan.

However, the Spartans jumped back ahead, tacking on two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to pull ahead 6-4, and MSU added three insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth to set the margin at 9-4.

The Golden Grizzlies loaded the bases to open top of the ninth inning on consecutive singles by Tim Ryan, Wilson, and Jablonski, and sophomore D.J. Jarrad belted a two-run, two-out double to pull Oakland to within 9-6. Taylor Traub stepped to the plate with two out, and was ruled out on a disputed call where the senior believed that he was hit by a pitch, but the ball was ruled fair, and Traub was thrown out at first to end the contest.

Freshman Matt LaMothe fell to 0-1 on the season after allowing six runs, five earned in seven innings of work. The Troy, Mich. native allowed nine hits, walked one and fanned two.

The Golden Grizzlies and Spartans will conclude their three-game set with a 1:05 p.m. game Sunday at Oldsmobile Park.

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