April 19, 2009

Box Score

FORT WAYNE, IND. - Senior Rob Merkle lifted a sacrifice fly in the top of the eighth inning to give the Oakland University baseball team (12-21, 6-6 Summit) a late lead, but the IPFW Mastodons (9-26, 2-10 Summit) rallied in the bottom of the ninth, culminating with a walk-off two-run single to push the Mastodons to a 4-3 win over the Golden Grizzlies in the two teams' series finale on Sunday at Mastodons Field.

In a back-and-forth contest it was the Mastodons that drew first blood, as Mark Carden put the Mastodons on the board with an RBI single in the bottom of the first inning. OU knotted the game in the top of the fifth on an RBI double by senior Justin Wilson, and then took the lead when freshman Tim Ryan scored on an error. IPFW knotted the game in the bottom of the sixth, and Merkle's sacrifice fly in the top of the eighth gave OU a late 3-2 lead.

The Golden Grizzlies held the Mastodons through the eighth inning, and got the first batter of the ninth to strike out looking, but a walk, a single, and a hit batsman loaded the bases for Shaun VanDriessche. VanDriessche singled to drive in the tying and winning runs and seal the walk-off victory for the Mastodons.

Traub was the only OU player with multiple hits, picking up two in the loss. Sophomore Greg Welke was solid through 5.0 innings of work, scattering seven hits and allowing one run while fanning three. Sophomore Jake Arendsen and freshman Dan Augustine combined to throw 3.1 no-hit innings in the middle of the contest. Sophomore Kasey Kearcher suffered the loss, falling to 0-2 on the season after allowing two earned runs.

The Golden Grizzlies will return to action this coming Tuesday, hosting Central Michigan at the OU Baseball Field. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.

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