April 2, 2010
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ROCHESTER, Mich. - Senior Katie Dreyer hit her third home run of the season in the front end of the doubleheader and junior Marisa Everitt went the distance in nightcap and recorded eight strikeouts as the Oakland University softball team (12-22, 4-4 Summit League) split two games with IUPUI (7-23, 4-7 Summit League) Friday afternoon at the OU Softball Field. The Jaguars won the first game 6-1 and OU took the second game with a 3-1 decision.
"We didn't come out with a lot of fire in the first game," said interim head coach Jane Zimmerman. "We played much better in the second game. We played with a lot more energy and did what we had to do."
The Jags struck first when Amy Raker hit a two RBI single in the top of the first to help IUPUI take an early 2-0 lead. Dreyer then countered in the bottom of the inning by sending a homer over the left center wall to bring the score to 2-1.
The Golden Grizzlies had a chance to knot the game up in the second when freshman Dani Dulberg crushed a double to left center and then advanced to third during the next at-bat. They were unable to bring her home, however, keeping the IUPUI lead at 2-1.
IUPUI took advantage of a passed ball in the top of the third to bring two runners in scoring position at second and third base and were able to bring both players home to take a 4-1 lead. The visiting team would run up the tally by two more runs in the top of the seventh of a two RBI single by Laura Wilcox to bring the game to a 6-1 score.
The Black and Gold had an opportunity to rally in the bottom of the seventh when senior Haley Emerson doubled to center field, and then advanced to third on an error. Senior Erica Lozon then entered the game as a pinch runner and stole second, but IUPUI was able to ward off any runs by striking out the last two batters to keep the score at its final 6-1.
Brittany Doyle (8-10) received the loss, as she allowed eight hits and six runs, only one of them earned, and recorded two walks and a strikeout in seven innings. Samantha Bumbaugh (1-9) also went the distance and picked up her first win of the year, allowing one run off three hits and fanning 10 batters with no walks. Oakland scored one run off three hits with two errors, while IUPUI recorded six runs off eight hits, committing one error.
After Everitt fanned the first three batters in the top of the first inning of the nightcap, Dreyer brought home sophomore Kelsey Krych with a bunt and Dulberg singled through the left side to subsequently bring home Dreyer to give OU an early 2-0 lead. Senior Anne Cicchini then brought home senior Audrey Sabourin with a single to run up the Oakland lead to 3-0 after two innings.
After recording only one hit over the course of the next four innings, the Jags looked to make a comeback in the top of the seventh when Mia Ettl was hit by a pitch and was later brought home from second by a Raker single to bring the score to 3-1. But that would be as close as the Jags would get, as Everitt struck out the final batter to secure the OU victory.
Everitt (3-6) pitched all seven innings, allowing one run and issuing only one walk to go with her eight strikeouts. Nicole Natter (2-8) was the losing pitcher of record, allowing three runs off two hits in 1.1 innings of work. Oakland scored three runs off four hits and committed no errors, while IUPUI scored one run off three hits with two errors.
The Golden Grizzlies will play the series finale on Saturday, April 3 with first pitch slated for noon. The game can be followed via Gametracker at www.ougrizzlies.com.
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