April 1, 2009

Box Score

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - Senior Jessica Granger tossed her second complete-game shutout, allowing just four hits and struck out two, senior Caitlin Lynch went 4-for-4, with a home run, and junior Haley Emerson was 2-for-2, with a double and two runs batted in, to lead the Oakland University softball team (11-18) to an 8-0, six-inning, victory over Central Michigan University (7-15) on Wednesday at Margo Jonker Stadium.

With the win, the Golden Grizzlies snap a seven-game losing streak versus the Chippewas and improve to 2-13 in the overall series. OU also tallied 11 hits in the ballgame and the win was the first time Oakland has won in Mount Pleasant. Game two was cancelled due to the cold weather.

Junior Ashley Sullivan finished 2-for-4, with one run scored and one RBI, while junior Katie Dreyer went 1-for-4, with one RBI for the Golden Grizzlies. Junior Anne Cicchini drove in a run with a double, going 1-for-2 in the game.

The Golden Grizzlies broke through in the top of the second inning as Deacon walked with the bases loaded after a pair of walks and an error by the CMU shortstop on a line drive off the bat of Sullivan as OU led 1-0.

Lynch led off the third inning with a deep home run to left field to chase the Chippewa starting pitcher from the game and push OU's lead to a two-run lead. Emerson then drilled one down the left field line to plate another run and Sullivan singled to right field to plate the third run of the inning to push the advantage to four, 4-0.

OU scored two more runs in the fifth inning on a double off the bat of Cicchini down the left field line as the Grizzlies took a 6-0 lead.

The Golden Grizzlies ended the game with two more runs in the sixth inning, courtesy of RBI singles by Dreyer and Emerson as Oakland went on to win 8-0 in five innings via mercy rule.

OU scored eight runs, on 11 hits, and had one error, while CMU had no runs, four hits and committed two errors.

The Golden Grizzlies will return to Summit League action this weekend as Southern Utah (14-20, 5-4) rolls into Rochester for a three-game set. The two teams will play a doubleheader on Friday beginning at 3 p.m., and a single game on Saturday with first pitch slated for Noon. All the games can be followed via live stats on www.ougrizzlies.com.

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