April 10, 2009

Box Score

ROCHESTER, Mich. - Senior Justin Wilson went 4-for-4, and sophomore Tommy Jablonski and senior Andrew Stafford both had three hits as the Oakland University baseball team (9-17, 2-3 Summit) slugged to a 17-7 victory over North Dakota State (7-14, 1-3 Summit) on Friday at the OU Baseball Field.

Oakland opened scoring in the first inning, using RBI singles by Stafford and senior Dan Ryan before Rob Merkle clubbed a three-run homer to give OU a 5-0 lead after one. The Golden Grizzlies tacked on a single run in the second inning on an error to pull ahead 6-0.

NDSU cut the Oakland lead in half with three runs in the top of the third, but the Golden Grizzlies responded in the bottom of the frame with an RBI single by sophomore Ryan Waldhart to push the OU lead to 7-3.

From there, the Golden Grizzlies added three runs in the fifth and five more in the sixth to take a 15-3 lead after six. NDSU scored two more in the seventh and ninth innings, while the Golden Grizzlies tacked on a pair in the bottom of the eighth to set the final margin at 17-7.

Ryan, Waldhart, sophomore D.J. Jarrad and senior Taylor Traub all had two hits for the Golden Grizzlies. Every position starter had at least one hit for OU.

Freshman Matt LaMothe was solid for the Golden Grizzlies, scattering ten hits in 6.0 innings of work, allowing three runs and fanning seven hitters. LaMothe improved to 3-1 on the season.

The Golden Grizzlies will continue their four-game series with NDSU with a noon doubleheader Saturday.

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