April 12, 2013

Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score

OMAHA, Neb. - Alivia Nikolaus and Jackie Kisman tallied three hits on the day and Shannon Cleveland hit her team-best third home run of the season as the Oakland softball team (5-13-1, 1-6) dropped a pair of close games to South Dakota State (13-21, 3-8), 4-1 and 2-0, Friday at Westside Field.

In game one, OU got on the scoreboard first as Cleveland led off the top of the second inning with a solo home run, her third of the season. SDSU tied the game in the bottom half of the inning as they scored on a throwing error.

SDSU grabbed the lead in the fourth inning as Marlee Petersen hit a solo home run. The Jackrabbits would add one run in both the fifth and sixth innings as Emily Weber hit a home run and Allison Huffman drove in a run with a single up the middle.

Erin Kownacki (4-7) suffered the loss throwing 5.0 innings, giving up three runs, two earned, on four hits and struck out four batters.

In the nightcap, it was a pitcher's duel as Laura Pond and Jennifer Sutton gave up only one hit each through the first five innings. The Golden Grizzlies had a scoring chance in the top of the sixth inning as Whitney Weston hit a single up the middle but Chelsea Carena was thrown out attempting to score by the center fielder.

SDSU scored the only two runs of the game in the bottom of the sixth inning as Petersen hit a two-RBI single to score Lauren Chirnside and VanessaKellems. OU would load the bases in the top of the seventh inning as Nikolaus, Abbie Richardson and Kisman all singled but were unable to extend the game.

Pond (0-6) took the loss as she threw a complete game, giving up two runs, none earned, on only three hits and struck out one batter.

The final game of this Summit League series will conclude tomorrow with one game starting at 1 p.m. ET.

#FightOakland