April 9, 2011

Box Score

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - Freshman Erika Polidori went 2-for-3 and scored in her third straight game as the Oakland University softball team (8-20, 3-9 Summit) lost a heartbreaker, 2-1 to North Dakota State (18-21, 8-4 Summit), Saturday afternoon at Sherman Park.

"I was pleased with the effort we showed today," said head coach LaDonia Hughes. "We were better in all three aspects of the game, hitting, pitching and defense, than we were yesterday. Defensively, we had just one error and made plays. That put us in the opportunity to win. Unfortunately, things didn't go our way."

In the third inning, with two outs, Polidori crushed a triple to center field. On the next play, the catcher attempted to pick Polidori off. The throw sailed into the outfield allowing her to score.

In the fourth inning for North Dakota State, Leslie Konz doubled and moved to third on a ground out. Senior Marisa Everitt got a strikeout and a pop up to end the threat.

The Golden Grizzlies put two runners on with one out in the top of the seventh. NDSU got OU to hit two fielder's choices to end the inning. In the bottom of the seventh, the Bison loaded the bases and got two singles to score twice.

For Oakland, junior Brittany Doyle (3-8) gave up two hits, two runs, neither earned and walked two in 1.1 innings.

For North Dakota State, Konz and Elisa Victa had two hits apiece. Whitney Johnson (11-5) gave up five hits, one run, which was unearned and struck out nine in seven innings.

Oakland hits the road, Tuesday, April 12 taking on Eastern Michigan. The doubleheader is scheduled to start at 2 p.m.

-OAKLAND-