April 13, 2012
Box Score
ROCHESTER, Mich. - Jake Morton went 3-for-4 and drove in two runs, while left-handed pitcher Jeff Gorecki pitched 7.0 strong innings, scattering eight hits, giving up three runs and struck out seven, as Oakland (7-24, 2-3) dropped a 6-3 decision to IPFW (11-21, 3-2) on Friday in the opening game of a four-game Summit League baseball series at the OU Baseball Field.
"We need to do a little bit better job of getting ahead of hitters," said OU coach John Musachio. "We only walked one guy, but we were getting behind a lot of hitters and that's when they did their damage. Jeff (Gorecki) didn't have his best stuff today, but he battled and put us in a position to win a game."
Chuck Weaver (2-4) threw 6.0 innings in the win for the Mastodons, allowing just two hits and one run, while striking out four. Steve Danielak closed out the game by throwing the final 3.0 innings, allowing four hits, two runs and fanned three to earn his fifth save of the season. Daren Boss and Kristian Gayday each drove in two runs for the `Dons.
IPFW struck first in the top of the third inning with four straight singles, highlighted by a bases loaded base hit to center field by Boss as the Golden Grizzlies went down by a score of 2-0. OU responded with a run in the bottom half of the inning on Morton's first sacrifice fly of the season.
Oakland fell down by two runs as IPFW posted back-to-back doubles by Malcolm White and Shane Trevino as the Mastodons led by two, 3-1.
OU's Trent Drumheller singled through the left side and Tim Ryan singled up the middle, advancing to second on a throwing error by the center fielder to give the Grizzlies a scoring threat in the seventh inning. Morton then drove in his second run of the game with a single to left field to bring the Grizzlies back within one, 3-2.
The Mastodons then jumped on OU relief pitching in the eighth inning with three runs as Gayday singled in two runs and Cody O'Neal drove in a run as IPFW extended its lead to four runs, 6-2. The Grizzlies plated a run in the bottom half of the eighth inning as Robby Enslen tripled to right-center field and scored on a sac fly by John Estes for a final score of 6-3.
"Offensively we struggled today, but I have to tip my cap to (Chuck) Weaver, he really pitched well and kept us off balance," said Musachio. "We are going to come out tomorrow and try and hit the reset button and go out and take two games."
OU scored three runs on six hits and had no errors, while IPFW scored six runs on 10 hits and committed three errors.
Games 2 and 3 of The Summit League series will take place tomorrow at the OU Baseball Field. The first game of the scheduled doubleheader is slated for Noon. You can follow all the action on OUgrizzlies.com or twitter@OUgrizzlies.
-OAKLAND BASEBALL-
