April 28, 2013

Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score

ST. PAUL, Minn. - Erin Kownacki and Laura Pond combined to give up only two earned runs in two games as the Oakland softball team (6-21-1, 1-12) dropped a Summit League doubleheader to league-leading North Dakota State (28-13, 15-0), 1-0 and 2-0, on Sunday at South Campus Field on the campus of the University of St. Thomas.

"Laura and Erin really pitched well today against a very powerful team," said coach Connie Miner. "We hit the ball hard all day long but right at people and it was very frustrating for the team. We came out and competed against NDSU in all three games and I am very proud of how we played."

In game one, it was a pitchers duel as Pond and NDSU's Krista Menke combined to give up no runs through six full innings. The Bison would win the game on a walk-off solo home run by Cheyenne Garcia to lead off the bottom of the seventh inning.

OU's best scoring chance came in the sixth inning as Erika Polidori hit a double and advanced to third on a ground out by Whitney Weston. Erin Galloway hit a sharp groundball down the left-field line but the third baseman made a nice stop and threw her out at first to end the inning and the threat.

Pond (0-10) suffered the loss throwing a complete game, giving up one earned run on six hits and struck out seven batters. Menke (7-7) earned the win throwing a complete-game shutout, giving up five hits and struck out four batters.

In the nightcap, it was another battle of pitching as neither Kownacki or North Dakota State's Whitney Johnson gave up a run through three complete innings. NDSU scored both runs in the bottom of the fourth as Maritza Lopez-Portillo and Alyssa Reina each hit RBI-singles.

Jackie Kisman and Weston would each finish the game with one hit as Oakland's best scoring opportunity came in the fifth inning as Abbie Richardson reached second on two NDSU errors. Courtney Wroubel would pinch run and advance to third, but Kisman would hit a line drive right at the left fielder to end the scoring opportunity.

Kownacki (4-9) took the loss throwing a complete game, giving up two runs, one earned, on only four hits and struck out three batters. The Bison's Johnson (20-6) earned the win throwing a complete-game shut out and giving up only two hits.

The Golden Grizzlies will play their final series of the season next weekend as they host Omaha in a three-game Summit League series at the OU Softball Field starting with a doubleheader on Thursday at 2 p.m.

#FightOakland