March 12, 2011
Game 1 | Game 2
MACOMB, Ill. - Senior Marisa Everitt struck out 13 batters, the third best single-game performance in school history as the Oakland University softball team (4-13, 0-3 Summit) fell 12-1, 5-4 to Western Illinois (5-8, 3-0 Summit) Saturday afternoon.
"We left it all on the field today," said head coach LaDonia Hughes. "This is the effort that I know we are capable of. With 13 strikeouts and one walk, I can't say enough about Marisa's performance. Today has given us confidence and we will continue to get better as the season goes on."
The first game was a continuation of the second game from Friday.
In the first inning, Colleen Biebel singled, stole second and scored off a single from Jamie Goss.
In the top of the second, freshman Megan McQueen singled and freshman Alyssa Shriver reached on an error. Following an out, a ground out moved the runners on base. Michelle Prieto made a great catch down the left field line to end the inning.
In the third, Western Illinois used three hits, three walks and an error to score four runs.
In the fourth, senior Marisa Everitt reached on a fielder's choice. A walk to freshman Shannon Cleveland and a single by sophomore Dani Dulberg loaded the bases. WIU forced a fielder's choice for the second out but junior Leah DiCristofaro scored Cleveland.
WIU scored seven runs in the bottom of fourth to seal the game.
For Oakland, sophomore Erin Galloway had her sixth double of the season, which leads The Summit League. Senior Alison Tansel (1-5) gave up six hits, five runs, three earned in 2.1 innings of work.
For Western Illinois, Goss was 3-for-4 and drove in four runs while Ashley Campbell drove in three runs. Hailey Bickford (1-1) gave up four hits, one run and struck out two in 3.1 innings.
In the nightcap, freshman Erika Polidori drew a walk. Sophomore Erin Galloway singled and both runners advanced one on the throw. Junior Kylie Schalz laid down a bunt single to score Polidori and move Galloway to third. Western Illinois would get two strikeouts to end the inning.
In the bottom of the first, Nikki Marinec sent the second pitch over the left field fence to tie the game 1-1. Following an out, WIU loaded the bases with a single from Beth Golitko and hit batters in Goss and Megan Kelly. Everitt got a strikeout and a fielder's choice to escape the inning.
In the second inning, Cleveland walked and moved to third on a single from Shriver. The Leathernecks got two outs to survive the inning.
In the top of the third, Polidori crushed the ball over the fence in dead centerfield to make it 2-1, Oakland.
In the bottom of the third, with one out Goss doubled and was replaced by pinch runner Briana Williams. Everitt got a strikeout and a fly out to strand the runner.
In the fifth, Alex Pflieger doubled, moved to third on a single by Biebel, who then stole second. Following two outs, Kelly singled to leftfield to clear the bases.
In the top of the seventh, McQueen blasted the ball over the right field fence for her first collegiate home run. Cleveland laced a triple down the right field line which prompted a pitching change. Shriver then dropped a single into right field to score Cleveland. Western Illinois turned a double play and got a line out to end the inning.
In the bottom of the seventh, Biebel drew a walk. The Golden Grizzlies recorded two outs before Kelly doubled down the left field line to score Biebel.
In the bottom of the 10th, Goss sent the ball over the left field fence to win the game.
For Oakland, Cleveland and Shriver led the attack with two hits each. Everitt (1-2) gave up 10 hits, five runs, walked one and struck out 13 in nine innings.
For Western Illinois, Kelly was 2-for-3 and drove in three runs while Goss had two hits. Ashley Campbell (3-3) gave up four hits two runs, walked one and struck out four in seven innings.
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