March 20, 2011

Box Score

YPSILANTI, Mich. - Sophomore Russell Luxton struck out eight batters and junior Tim Ryan drove in three runs to lead the Oakland University baseball team (3-9) to a 13-1 win over Alma (1-9) at Oestrike Field on Sunday. The Golden Grizzlies outhit the Scots 15-4 in the final game of the Oestrike Classic.

"It always helps when you get an outstanding effort from your starting pitcher, and Russell Luxton gave us that today," said Oakland head coach John Musachio. "We are at our best when we are attacking and we were able to do that at the plate and on the base path today."

Luxton (1-0) threw six scoreless innings and allowed just two hits to lead Oakland to the win. This season, Luxton is sporting a 0.68 ERA. He was aided on Sunday by an Oakland offense that pounded out eight runs before putting the game out of reach with five runs in the bottom of the ninth.

Ryan scored the first run of the game on an RBI-ground out by junior Aaron Cieslak in the first inning. Ryan drove in the eventual game-winning run in the second inning with a base hit up the middle to score sophomore Mike Carson. After the Golden Grizzlies scored two runs in both the third and fourth innings, Ryan made it an 8-0 lead by hitting a 2-RBI single in the seventh inning.

Oakland spread out its offense with 13 different players picking up hits and eight different players driving in runs. Only Ryan (2-for-4) and senior Dan Gliot (2-for-3) had more than one hit for OU and Ryan was the only player to get more than one RBI. Sophomore Todd Dunham stole three bases, as OU swiped nine bases in the win.

Anthony Derrer (0-2) suffered the loss for the Scots after giving up six runs in three innings of work. Kyle Henris was 2-for-3 to lead Alma and drove in the Scots' only run with double in the bottom of the ninth. Two of Alma's four hits came in the bottom of the ninth.

Three Oakland players, Dunham, Carson and senior Dan Gliot were all named to the All-Tournament team. Gliot hit .333 over three games, driving in one run. Carson had a .364 on-base percentage for the weekend, while slugging .333. Dunham had an RBI and scored two runs in addition to his three stolen bases.

Oakland is back in action on Tuesday with a 5:30 p.m. game at Notre Dame.

-OAKLAND-