March 22, 2009

Box Score

LANSING, Mich. - Seniors Dan Ryan and Rob Merkle and sophomore Tommy Jablonski all picked up two hits, but the Oakland University baseball team (5-11) was unable to hold a late two-run lead against Michigan State (5-14), as the Spartans pushed across four eighth-inning runs to take a 7-5 victory over the Golden Grizzlies on Sunday at Oldsmobile Park.

The Spartans opened scoring in the bottom of the first inning on an RBI double by Eric Roof, jumping out to a 1-0 lead after one. However, Oakland knotted the game in the top of the second on an RBI single by freshman Tim Ryan.

The Golden Grizzlies pulled ahead in the top of the third inning on an RBI single by Dan Ryan, then added a pair of runs after a Spartan error to pull ahead 4-1. Michigan State cut the OU lead to 4-3 after scoring two unearned runs in the fourth, but the Golden Grizzlies came up with a run in the eighth as Dan Ryan clubbed an RBI double to push the Oakland lead to 5-3.

However, the Spartans staged a rally in the bottom of the eighth inning, tallying four runs on five hits to push ahead 7-5 going into the ninth, and the Golden Grizzlies went down in order in the top of the ninth as MSU held on for the victory.

Freshman Kyle Teague started the game for Oakland and was solid through five innings, allowing three runs, one earned, on eight hits. The Oxford, Mich. native walked three and fanned one. Sophomore Jake Arendsen (0-1) suffered the loss in relief after surrendering three runs, all earned, on five hits in 2.1 innings.

Kurtis Frymier picked up the win for MSU, moving to 1-2 on the season. Peter Wolff picked up his second save of the year after pitching a scoreless ninth.

The Golden Grizzlies will return to action on Wednesday, March 25, as they travel to South Bend, Ind. to face Notre Dame. First pitch is scheduled for 5:05 p.m.

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