April 29, 2010
Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Junior Marisa Everitt drove in two runs in game one, but it was not enough to help the Golden Grizzlies take the win as the Oakland University softball team (15-29, 7-8 Summit League) dropped two games to Michigan State University (20-26, 4-10 Big Ten), losing an extra inning battle to a walk-off home run 5-4 in game one and falling 4-0 in the nightcap Thursday afternoon at Old College Field.
The Golden Grizzlies got on the board first in game one when sophomore Kelsey Krych was walked in the first at-bat and then got herself in scoring position when she stole second. A throwing error by the pitcher allowed her to come home for an early 1-0 lead. The Golden Grizzlies had an opportunity to pour on the runs with bases loaded and no outs, but Shelby Wise fanned two straight batters and popped out the third to end the Oakland threat.
But the Spartans tied the game up 1-1 when Jayme O'Bryant homered a solo shot to left field in the bottom of the second inning. OU reclaimed the lead, however, off a deep left field double by sophomore Leah DiCristofaro in the third drove in a run to retake the lead 2-1.
In the top of the sixth, the Spartans tied the game up when Mary Kate DiVitgilio hit the game's second home run to center field to knot the game up at two runs apiece. But the Black and Gold were given a boost by Everitt, when she hit a sacrifice to bring home two more runners to run the score up to 4-2.
Michigan State cut away at the lead in the sixth inning when the Spartans drove in two runs off to back-to-back sacrifice plays to tie the game up at 4-4. After the Golden Grizzlies went one-two-three in the seventh, the Spartans were able to get two runners on, but couldn't drive anyone home, forcing extra innings.
OU once again went three up, three down in the top of the eighth, opening the door for MSU to take the game with a walk-off home run to center field by Lindsey Hansen, bringing the final score to 5-4.
Everitt (5-8), was charged with the loss, as she allowed five earned runs, walked two batters and fanned six in eight innings. Lauren Kramer picked up the win for MSU, allowing no hits and striking out four batters in 2.1 innings. Oakland scored four runs off seven hits with no errors, while MSU scored five runs off five hits, committing two errors.
In game two, it was the Spartans who got on the board first in the top of the fourth inning. After recording back-to-back two out singles, a throwing error by the catcher brought in both runners, bringing the score to 2-0. MSU tacked on two additional runs in the fifth and sixth innings with an O'Bryant two-out double and a sacrifice, respectively, to increase the lead to 4-0.
Oakland was unable to a run across the plate in the top of the seventh, leaving the game at what would be its 4-0 final score.
Sophomore Brittany Doyle (9-13) was the pitcher of record, as she gave up four runs, two earned, and struck out two in 5.1 innings of work. Krammer (15-14) went the distance, allowing no runs and scattering five hits with nine strikeouts. Oakland scored no runs off five hits, committing three errors, while MSU scored four runs off seven hits with no errors.
The Golden Grizzlies will next return home to play the first two games of a series against Western Illinois on Friday, April 30 with first pitch scheduled for 3 p.m. The doubleheader can be followed via Gametracker at www.ougrizzlies.com.
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