COLLEGE BASEBALL: IPFW uses big innings to sweep Oakland
FORT WAYNE, Ind. — Sophomore Mike Carson went 4-for-6 combined, but the Oakland University baseball team dropped a pair of games 8-1 and 5-4 to IPFW on Saturday as the teams opened Summit League play at Mastodons Field. The Golden Grizzlies gave up a six-run inning in game one and a four-run inning in game two that proved to be the difference in both games.
“We flat out need to pitch better and throw more strikes to help us win games,” said Oakland head coach John Musachio. “Offensively, we need to start coming up with timely hits when we put runners in scoring position.”
Oakland (4-14, 0-2) took a 1-0 lead in the opening game when senior Aaron Wick hit a sacrifice fly that was deep enough to score junior Aaron Cieslak. However, the Mastodons tied the game with a two-out hit in the bottom of the inning and senior Dan Gliot kept IPFW from taking the lead with his throw home to get Kurt Dudley out at home.
In the fifth inning, junior starter Greg Welke (1-5) walked the bases loaded before giving way to the bullpen. The Mastodons (7-16, 2-0) scored six runs on three hits in the inning and took the lead for good. IPFW starter Nick Opitz (2-4) threw the full nine innings, scattering six hits and allowing just one earned run.
Carson led Oakland with a 2-for-4 effort in the game as the only OU hitter with more than one hit. Nate Thomas led the Mastodons with a 3-for-5 effort, which included three RBIs.
Oakland had a more positive start to Game 2, taking a 4-1 lead in the top of the seventh when senior Tommy Jablonski (Auburn Hills Oakland Christian) singled to drive in junior Tim Ryan. Carson drove in a run in the second inning and scored in the sixth as OU posted single runs in the four different innings.
In the bottom of the seventh the Mastodons struck for four runs, including the go-ahead run on a wild pitch. Oakland had a chance to respond in the eighth inning with the bases loaded, but failed to produce a two-out hit. Oakland left a total of 11 runners stranded on base.
Carson finished the game 2-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored. Jablonski was 3-for-5 and also drove in a run, while Wick was a solid 2-for-4. Oakland and IPFW both had nine hits in the second game, with Will Faulkner and Kristian Gayday each going 2-for-3 to lead the Mastodons.
Senior Mark Leichtman (0-2) got the loss for Oakland going 6.2 innings and allowing nine hits. Matt Ransbottom (2-1) picked up the win in relief for IPFW after taking over for Lucas Kesterson who struck out six OU batters in six innings.
Category: Colleges / Other, Oakland University
