May 12, 2009
Box Score
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - Seniors Taylor Traub and Dan Ryan collected four hits, seniors Justin Wilson, and Andrew Stafford, and sophomore Scott Sexton each collected three hits, and freshman Ryan Schario tossed four solid innings in relief as the Oakland University baseball team (20-32) won a thrilling 20-17 decision over Bowling Green on Tuesday at Steller Field.
The Falcons got on the board first, plating a single run in the bottom of the first inning. BGSU tacked on three more in the second and third innings, and two more in the fourth to take a commanding 9-0 lead after four innings.
Oakland roared back in the top of the fifth, loading the bases with one out. An error by the Falcons allowed the Golden Grizzlies to plate a pair of runs, pulling Oakland to within 9-2. OU narrowed the gap to 9-4 on a two-out, two-run double by sophomore Scott Sexton later in the inning.
After the Falcons switched pitchers, bringing in righty Steven Barrett, the Golden Grizzlies pulled even closer when Traub belted the 2-2 offering out of the park, pulling Oakland to within 9-6.
Ryan then hit a two-out double, and sophomore Jonathan Zalenski followed with a two-run blast to left-center that brought Oakland to within 9-8 after the top of the fifth. Bowling Green responded in the bottom of the frame, loading the bases against Schario, but the Golden Grizzlies ended the threat after BGSU's David Borcherdt lifted a short fly just beyond the infield, and Patrick Martin was thrown out at the plate trying to tag up on the short pop fly.
After a one-out double in the top of the sixth by Wilson, sophomore Tommy Jablonski singled to right-center, putting runners at the corners. Oakland tied the game at 9-9 after a failed pickoff attempt that allowed Jablonski to go from first to third, and Jablonski then scored on an RBI grounder by senior Andrew Stafford, giving Oakland a 10-9 lead after the top of the sixth.
Oakland continued its offensive assault in the top of the seventh inning, as junior Keith Kampe blasted a two-run homer to left-center, extending the Oakland lead to 12-9. In the eighth, Sexton laced a two-run single to center, pushing the OU lead to 14-9.
OU added a crucial insurance run in the top of the ninth, using a sacrifice fly by Wilson that plated Kampe. After a two-run single by Logan Berti that pulled the Falcons to within 15-11, BGSU loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth with one out, and Ryan Shea responded, ripping a two-run double down the left-field line that pulled the Falcons to within 15-13.
With the tying run in scoring position and one out, Brian Hangbers laced a two-run single to right that knotted the game at 15-15, and sent the game into extra innings.
In the top of the tenth inning, back-to-back singles by Ryan and Zalenski put runners at the corners with one out. Freshman Tim Ryan then lifted a sacrifice fly to left that plated Dan Ryan to give the Golden Grizzlies a 16-15 lead. However, the Falcons came right back in the bottom of the tenth, plating a run on a fielder's choice that knotted the game at 16-16.
Wilson led off the eleventh inning for Oakland with a double, and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Jablonski. Stafford then singled Wilson home, giving Oakland a 17-16 lead. Dan Ryan then belted a two-run triple, pushing Oakland's lead to 20-16. Bowling Green threatened in the bottom of the eleventh, loading the bases with one out. After freshman Dan Augustine fanned Ryan Price for the second out of the inning, the Falcons' Patrick Martin drew a bases-loaded walk to pull Bowling Green to within 20-17.
However, Bowling Green's Ryan Schlater fouled out for the third out of the inning to end the contest.
Freshman Kyle Teague picked up the win, improving to 1-0 on the season after allowing four runs on six hits in two innings. Jablonski and Zalenski both had two hits. Sexton drove in four runs.
The Golden Grizzlies will return to action this Thursday through Saturday, as they close out the 2009 season with a four-game series at Centenary. First pitch Thursday night is scheduled for 7 p.m.
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