April 5, 2011

Game 1 | Game 2

ROCHESTER, Mich. - Senior Marisa Everitt gave up six hits and one run which was unearned as the Oakland University softball team (8-17) earned a split with Western Michigan (8-21), Tuesday afternoon at the OU Softball Field. The Broncos won the opener 13-0 in five innings while OU rallied to win the nightcap 2-1.

"Every game is a learning experience," said head coach LaDonia Hughes. "We had a rough start in game one. I'm proud of the way that the girls got over it and turned it around in the second game. We executed when we needed to and that was what led us to the win. We fought every inning and I thought that Marisa (Everitt) threw a good game."

In game one, in the first inning for Western Michigan, Lexi Jager singled and stole second. The Golden Grizzlies then made two errors which plated Jager for the 1-0 lead. The Broncos broke the game open with six runs in the third.

For Oakland, freshman Erika Polidori, sophomore Abbie Richardson and freshman Alyssa Shriver had one hit each. Junior Brittany Doyle (3-6) gave up six hits, seven runs, six earned, walked one and struck out three in 2.2 innings.

For Western Michigan, Courtney Rousseau was 2-for-3, had a grand slam home run and drove in six runs, Jager was 4-for-4 and scored three runs and Tara Buchanan drove in three runs.

Kayla Houston and Diana Patterson combined to throw a three-hitter with two walks and four strikeouts. Houston (5-9) gave up two hits, walked two and struck out four batters in four innings for the win.

In the nightcap, WMU once again drew first blood. In the second inning, Rousseau walked and moved to second on a passed ball. Ally Carlson then laced a single to left field to score Rousseau.

In the fifth inning, Shriver drew a walk for the Golden Grizzlies. Freshman Shelby Gott crushed a triple to right center field, scoring Shriver and tying the game at 1-1.

In the bottom of the sixth, junior Kelsey Krych drove the first pitch all the way to the right center field fence for a triple. Sophomore Erin Galloway lifted a deep fly to left field allowing Krych to score, making it 2-1 OU.

In the top of the seventh, the Broncos threatened with runners at first and second and two outs. Jager flew out to center field to end the game.

For Oakland, Krych and Gott finished the with two hits each. Everitt (3-3) gave up six hits, one run which was unearned, walked three and struck out two in seven innings.

For Western Michigan, Meredith Whitney had a double among her two hits. Whitney (2-8) gave up five hits, two runs, walked one and struck out four in six innings for the loss.

Oakland will head to Sioux Falls, S.D., Friday-Saturday, April 8-9 to take on North Dakota State. The games will be played at Sherman Park (12th St. & Kiwanis Ave.).

All three games will be available via live stats at http://www.gobison.com/liveStats/liveStats.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=2400&KEY=

-OAKLAND-