May 19, 2011

Box Score

SHREVEPORT, La. - Senior Tommy Jablonski and sophomore Todd Dunham both had three hits and junior Jeff Gorecki (1-2) threw 5.1 shutout innings, as Oakland University (16-30, 8-17) rallied from five runs down to win 13-8 over Centenary College (11-29, 8-16) on Thursday at Shehee Stadium. The Golden Grizzlies outhit Centenary 16-10 and scored 10 unanswered runs to end the game.

"Our guys did a great job of shaking off a sluggish start," said Oakland head coach John Musachio. "I give a lot of credit to Jeff Gorecki who slammed the door for over five innings and gave our offense a chance to overcome the early deficit."

Oakland trailed 8-3, but scored in the fifth inning on a two-RBI single by senior Aaron Wick and eventually took the lead with four runs in the seventh. Senior Ryan Waldhart tied the game with a two-RBI double and junior John Estes hit a single up the middle to drive in junior Aaron Cieslak with the go-ahead run.

The Golden Grizzlies tacked on four insurance runs in the eighth inning to break the game open. Two runs scored when sophomore Mike Carson's sacrifice bunt attempt was misplayed by the Centenary pitcher. That was followed by a two-RBI single from Dunham to make it 13-8.

Gorecki came in with a runner on third in the fourth inning and quickly got out of the jam when Waldhart picked off Derek Dalzell at third. It was Gorecki that applied the final tag on the pick off play. The junior left-hander went on to scatter three hits over 5.1 shutout innings of work and earned his first win of the season.

Dunham was 3-for-5 with three RBIs and Jablonski went 3-for-6 and scored three runs, to lead six Oakland batters with multiple hits. Carson was 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI-doubles, while Wick was 2-for-4 and Waldhardt went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored.

Cieslak was 2-for-5 and scored twice, while senior D.J. Jarrad made the most of his 1-for-3 effort by scoring three runs. It marked the eighth consecutive game in which the Golden Grizzlies have posted 10 or more hits.

Tyler Neporadny was 4-for-4 to lead the Gents at the plate. Dalzell was 1-for-4 with a three-RBI double in the fourth inning that gave CC its five-run lead. Kelby Langston (1-4) took the loss for Centenary. He was one of seven pitchers used by the Gents in the game.

The Golden Grizzlies are back in action on Friday with a doubleheader against CC starting at 2 p.m. ET.

-OAKLAND-