April 23, 2011
Box Score | Photo Gallery 
ROCHESTER, Mich. - Senior Aaron Wick went 2-for-4, but the Oakland University baseball team (8-21, 2-8) lost 7-0 to Western Illinois (12-26, 4-6) on Saturday in Summit League baseball action at the OU Baseball Field. The loss evens the weekend series at 1-1 heading into Sunday's doubleheader finale.
"We just didn't have it today," said Oakland head coach John Musachio. "Tomorrow we will try to get it turned around and try to win the weekend series."
Western Illinois posted five runs in the seventh inning to break open a one-run game. Austin Cowen led off the inning with a solo home run before Dan Dispensa started a two-out rally that put Western Illinois ahead 6-0.
A solo home run by Tom Lilja was the only run scored by either team over the first six innings.
Two times in the first four innings the Golden Grizzlies put a runner in scoring position with no outs, but came away with no runs. Junior Aaron Cieslak hit a leadoff double and reached third with no outs in the second, while Wick reached second with no outs in the fourth. In both cases WIU was able to escape without allowing a run.
Wick was the only OU player with multiple hits, as Western Illinois outhit Oakland 16-5. Anthony Kaskadden was 4-for-5 to lead the Fighting Leathernecks, while Danny Marcuzzo was 3-for-4 and added a solo home run in the ninth inning.
Starter Zach Sterling (4-2) earned the win for WIU, striking out nine batters over eight scoreless innings of work. Oakland sophomore Russell Luxton (2-2) suffered the loss, as he scattered 10 hits and allowed three runs over 6.2 innings. Luxton struck out three batters and was effective for most of the game.
The two teams will play a doubleheader on Sunday starting at noon.
-OAKLAND-
