March 19, 2011

Game 1 | Game 2

INDIANAPOLIS - Junior Leah DiCristofaro had a grand slam home run, sophomore Erin Galloway had two doubles among her three hits and junior Kelsey Krych scored three runs and stole three bases as the Oakland University softball team (5-14, 1-4 Summit) split with IUPUI (8-12, 3-2 Summit) Friday evening at Jaguars Field.

IUPUI would come from behind to win the opener 7-5 while Oakland took the nightcap 12-7.

In the first game, things were quiet until the top of the fifth. Freshman Erika Polidori and sophomore Erin Galloway singled followed by junior Kylie Schalz reaching on an error. Freshman Megan McQueen laid down a fielder's choice that scored Polidori.

Following a strikeout, DiCristofaro crushed the ball over the fence in dead center field. It was the first grand slam for her and the second for Oakland this season.

IUPUI would counter as they scored five runs in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game. In the seventh, Amy Raker singled and then Brandi Lawson had a home run to end the contest.

For Oakland, Galloway and Polidori had two hits each and DiCristofaro drove in four runs. Senior Alison Tansel (1-6) gave up three hits, three runs and walked one in 0.2 innings of work.

For IUPUI, Lawson went 2-for-4 and drove in two runs while Angela Bartucci drove in two runs. Nicole Natter (2-1) walked one batter in one inning to pick up the win.

In the nightcap, the Golden Grizzlies got things started in the first inning. Krych singled, stole two bases and scored on a ground out from Galloway. In the bottom of the first, Lawson was hit by a pitch and Julie Love walked. The bases were loaded both times giving the Jaguars a 2-1 lead.

Oakland would score four runs over the next two innings to take the lead back at 5-2. In the bottom of the fourth, Bartucci hit a two-run home run to cut the margin to one, 5-4.

In the fifth, with one out, Schalz walked and DiCristofaro was hit by a pitch. Following a pop up, Cleveland lined a double to left center field that scored Schalz and moved DiCristofaro to third. Freshman Alyssa Shriver singled to centerfield to clear the bases and make it 8-4.

IUPUI would score twice in the bottom of the fifth to keep the game interesting. The Golden Grizzlies would score four more runs over the last two innings to pull away.

For Oakland, Krych was 3-for-5, scored three runs and stole three bases while Shriver and senior Kerry Brennan each had two hits and two RBI's. Senior Marisa Everitt (2-2) gave up two hits, four runs, walked five and struck out four in four innings of work.

For the Jaguars, Natter (2-2) gave up six hits, four runs, two of them earned in two innings.

Oakland will close out the series against IUPUI, Saturday, March 19. The game is scheduled to start at 12 p.m. Live stats will be available at www.ougrizzlies.com.

-OAKLAND-