May 1, 2010

Game 1 | Game 2

MACOMB, Ill. - Junior D.J. Jarrad went 4-for-10, scored three runs with a double and a home run and freshman Mike Carson was 3-for-5, scored five runs, drove in four and had two home runs as the Oakland University baseball team (6-8 Summit, 13-24) swept Western Illinois (2-13 Summit, 9-31) 7-4 and 10-7 at Al Boyer Stadium Saturday afternoon.

"Our guys found a way to earn two big wins today," said head coach John Musachio. "It was a complete team effort."

In game one, Oakland used three hits to score a run in the first inning. The score was 1-0 Oakland until the fourth inning. With two outs, freshman Todd Dunham and Carson drew walks. Junior Dan Gliot crushed a triple to right center field to score both runners and make it 3-0.

The Golden Grizzlies would score four runs over the next four innings to take a 7-0 lead into the ninth. Western Illinois made things interesting in its last at-bat using four hits to score four runs. With the score 7-4, two outs and runners at second and third, junior Mark Leichtmann struck out Rich Mascheri to end the game.

Jarrad, junior Tommy Jablonski and junior Ryan Waldhart all had two hits each to lead the attack. Carson scored two runs and Gliot drove in two runs. Sophomore Matt LaMothe (3-4) gave up three hits, walked three and struck out six batters in six innings of work for the win.

For the Leathernecks, Bryan Jordan went 3-for-5, scored a run and drove in two runs. Devin VanBrooker (3-4) gave up seven hits, five runs, all of them earned, walked two and struck out five in seven innings.

In game two, the score was knotted at 2-2 heading into the third inning. Jarrad led off the inning with a double to left field followed by Waldhart getting hit by a pitch. Jablonski laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance both runners.

Sophomore Aaron Cieslak laced a double to dead center field to score Jarrad and Waldhart. A ground out moved Cieslak to third and he scored on a single to center field by sophomore John Estes. Carson finished the scoring with a two run bomb to left field.

WIU came back to score two in the fourth to close the gap to 7-4. Oakland would rally in the fifth with two outs. Estes singled to left field and Carson was issued a walk. Dunham singled to left field to move Carson to second and push Estes across the plate. Senior Brett Geschke hit a sharp single to left field to score Carson and make it 9-4.

The Leathernecks refused to quit scoring three runs in the sixth inning to make it 9-7. Carson led off the seventh inning with a solo homer to left field. Western Illinois once again attempted to rally in its last ball opening with two walks. OU would turn a double play and get a pop up to end the game.

Estes went 3-for-4 and scored three runs while Carson was 2-for-2, scored three runs, drove in three runs and had two home runs. Cieslak, Geschke, Jarrad, Waldhart and junior Aaron Wick all had two hits apiece.

Connor Mielock (2-6) gave up nine hits, four runs, all earned, walked two and struck out one batter in three and 1/3 innings for the win. Junior Jake Arendsen pitched the seventh inning to pick up his first save of the season.

For WIU, Jason Summers was 4-for-5 and Jordan and John Koszulinski had three hits each. Randon Lingle (3-6) gave up nine hits, seven runs, all of them earned and walked one batter in two and 2/3rd innings.

Oakland closes out the series against Western Illinois, Sunday, May 2. The game is scheduled to start at 2:00 p.m.

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