March 13, 2010

Box Score

SHREVEPORT, La. - The Golden Grizzlies' bats went on fire in the third inning to drive in four runs, including a home run by senior Haley Emerson, but it wasn't enough to fend off the Ladies' comeback as the Oakland University softball team (7-15, 1-2 Summit League) dropped a 5-4 decision to Centenary College (8-10, 2-1 Summit League) Saturday afternoon at the Centenary College Softball Complex. The win gives Centenary the 2-1 series edge to open up league play.

After two scoreless innings, the Oakland offense came alive in the top of the third. After junior Danielle Peters and senior Katie Dreyer drew in back-to-back runs, Emerson smacked the ball out of the yard for the second game in a row to add two more runs to the scoreboard, giving OU a 4-0 lead.

OU had three runners advance after the scoring barrage off two Centenary wild pitches, but the pitcher was able to regain composure and strike out the final Oakland batter to stop the bleeding.

The Ladies began to stage their comeback in the bottom of the third when they tallied one run and added two more in the fourth inning to narrow the gap to a 4-3 Oakland lead.

After Oakland went one-two-three at the top of the fifth, Centenary knotted the game up at 4-4 off a Caitlin Cavarra double.Neither team would get on the board in the sixth, leaving it to a seventh inning showdown to decide the game's fate.

Oakland got two quick outs off a strikeout and pop-out before freshman Dani Dulberg came in as a pinch hitter and was hit by a pitch, advancing her to first base. But a fielder's choice on the next at-bat retired the side, leaving the score tied up at four runs apiece. Centenary would seal the victory in the bottom of the seventh though, thanks to a walk-off home run from Sara Dornelas, giving the game its 5-4 final score.

Marisa Everitt (2-3) was recorded with the loss, allowing three hits and two runs in 2.1 innings of work. Lauren Highsmith (1-0) picked up her first win on the year with no hits and seven strikeouts in 4.2 innings.

Oakland scored four runs off five hits with no errors, while Centenary notched five runs off 10 hits with no errors.

OU will next head to the sunny terrains of Myrtle Beach, S.C. to play in the Coastal Carolina Tournament from Friday, March 19 through Sunday, March 21, starting with a double-header on Friday against Houston Baptist at 1:45 p.m. and Buffalo at 4 p.m.

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