May 3, 2009

Box Score

BROOKINGS, S.D. - Sophomore D.J. Jarrad turned in a three-hit effort, while seniors Andrew Stafford, Rob Merkle, and Dan Ryan, and sophomore Ryan Waldhart all had two hits, but the Oakland University baseball team (16-27, 7-13 Summit League) was unable to overcome a late offensive surge by the South Dakota State Jackrabbits (18-26, 11-8 Summit League), falling 8-5 on Sunday in the two teams' series finale at Erv Ruether Field.

RBI singles by Ryan and sophomore Scott Sexton gave OU a 2-0 lead after the first inning, and the Golden Grizzlies extended the advantage to 3-0 in the fifth, as Stafford belted a solo homer to left. However, SDSU's Jesse Sawyer tied the game with one swing of the bat in the bottom of the fifth, belting a three-run homer that knotted the game at 3-3.

SDSU took a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the sixth, scoring a single run on a sacrifice fly, but the Golden Grizzlies rallied in the top of the seventh. A sacrifice fly by senior Taylor Traub knotted the game, and a solo homer by Ryan put Oakland back on top, 5-4.

However, SDSU rallied against the OU bullpen, reclaiming the lead with a two-run seventh and adding two more runs in the eighth, and the Golden Grizzlies were unable to match the late offense.

Freshman Kyle Teague fanned ten in 5.2 innings of work, earning no decision. His 10 strikeouts marked the first time that an OU pitcher has fanned 10 or more hitters since Kyle Boehm struck out 11 in a game against Southern Utah on April 18, 2004. Sophomore Kasey Kearcher suffered the loss, falling to 0-3 on the year after allowing two runs in 0.2 innings of work.

The Golden Grizzlies will return to action on Tuesday, May 5, hosting Eastern Michigan in a 1 p.m. doubleheader at the OU Baseball Field.

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