April 15, 2009

Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score

ROCHESTER, Mich. - Senior Jessica Granger (11-11) tossed her fifth complete-game shutout, scattering two hits and striking out nine, and senior Caitlin Lynch went 1-for-3, driving in the only run in game two, to lead Oakland University (14-23, 7-10) to a 1-0 Summit League victory over IPFW (14-18, 9-7) at the OU Softball Field on Wednesday. The Mastodons won game one 1-0.

Sophomore Alyssa Deacon went 2-for-3 in the nightcap, while junior Angela Righetti was a perfect 2-for-2, and scored the game's only run. Granger tossed a complete game in the opener, allowing just three hits, one earned run and fanned five. She became OU's all-time leader in wins by earning her 40th career victory in game two. Junior Anne Cicchini had the only two hits for the Golden Grizzlies in game one.

IPFW's Courtney Cronin (9-5) tossed a two-hit complete-game shutout in the opener, striking out five and went 1-for-3 at the plate, driving in the only run in the entire game. Beatrice Pedraza had the other two hits for the Mastodons.

The Mastodons got on the board in the second inning of game one as Pedraza singled to second base to put runners at first and second, and Cronin singled to right-center field to give IPFW a 1-0 lead.

The Golden Grizzlies looked like they were going to tie the game in the fourth inning as senior Julie Owen was hit-by-a-pitch, advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Lynch, and was about to score on a base hit by freshman Leah DiCristofaro, but the Mastodons' Jil Price robbed DiCristofaro of a base hit with a diving catch in left field to preserve the one-run lead.

OU once again had a great chance of tying the game as Cicchini singled up the middle, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt, and stole third base as Owen walked to place runners at first and third with two outs. Owen then attempted to steal second base, stopped three-fourths of the way down, but was called out for attempting to go back to first base with the ball in the circle to end the threat and allow the Mastodons to keep a one-run lead.

Granger continued to dominate, retiring 10 straight batters to keep a fighting chance for the Grizzlies, but Oakland went down in order in the seventh inning to fall 1-0.

OU had no runs, two hits and committed one error, while IPFW scored one run, on three hits and had no errors.

Game two was also a pitcher's duel, this time between Granger and IPFW's Rachel Staschuk. Oakland broke through in the bottom of the third inning on a two-out RBI single to right field by Lynch, scoring Righetti who singled and advanced to second base on a successful sac bunt.

The Grizzlies had a chance to grab a two-run lead in the fifth inning as Righetti led off with a base hit up the middle, but was tagged out at second base after a sac bunt by Cicchini, but the Mastodons threw down to second base after recording the out at first and got Righetti on a tag after she missed the bag sliding back.

Granger made that one-run lead stick with three strikeouts over the next four batters as the Golden Grizzlies earned the split with the Mastodons.

OU scored one run, on five hits and had no errors, while IPFW had no runs, two hits and no errors.

Oakland will host Centenary College (27-14, 10-3) this Friday and Saturday, April 17-18, at the OU Softball Field. All games can be followed on Gametracker at www.ougrizzlies.com.

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