COLLEGE BASEBALL: Oakland sweeps Western Illinois to up win streak to seven games
ROCHESTER HILLS — Mike Carson was 6-for-9 and drove in six runs to help Oakland sweep a Summit League doubleheader, 11-10 and 8-1, against Western Illinois at the OU Baseball Field on Saturday.
The Golden Grizzlies clinched the series win over WIU and extended a seven-game winning streak.
“Today’s sweep and earning a series win is huge,” said Oakland head coach John Musachio. “It helps you move one step closer to earning a spot in The Summit League Tournament and a chance to win a Summit League title, which is the goal of every team in the league.”
In the opener,Carson was 4-for-5 and had the game-winning hit in the bottom the ninth inning as Oakland (17-25, 8-3) won in come-from-behind fashion over Western Illinois in the opener. It was the third consecutive game that the Golden Grizzlies have won in the final at-bat.
After letting an 8-3 lead slip away, Oakland trailed 10-9 heading into the bottom of the ninth. A leadoff single by Spencer Marentette sparked the rally and Jake Morton drove in pinch runner Trent Drumheller to tie the game. That allowed Carson to come through with a two-out hit, as he drove the ball to left center, allowing Morton to score the game-winning run from second. It was the second consecutive game in which Morton plated the winning run.
“This game was definitely a roller coaster,” said Musachio. “We jumped out to a commanding lead, but to Western Illinois’ credit they battled back to take the lead. Fortunately, we have a lot of resilience and our guys did a heck of a job hanging in there and finding a way to win.”
Oakland pounded out 17 hits, led by Carson who drove in three runs and scored twice. Aaron Cieslak was 3-for-4, while Marentette went 3-for-5 at the plate. Tim Ryan and Todd Dunham also had multiple hits. Morton scored four runs and stole two bases, while Robby Enslen drove in three runs.
A 3-1 Oakland lead evaporated when WIU scored two runs to tie the game in the sixth inning. The Golden Grizzlies responded immediately with Carson and Enslen each providing RBI hits in a five-run sixth inning, that put OU ahead 8-3.
Although Oakland appeared to be in control, WIU (13-27-1, 3-12)mustered a response and posted a six-run seventh inning. Austin Cowen had a bases loaded, two-RBI double that put the Leathernecks in front 9-8. Western Illinois had 11 hits, led by Tom Lilja, who went 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Both teams scored a run in the eighth to setup the dramatic final inning.
Reliever Bryan Jagielo (1-1) pitched a scoreless ninth inning to earn his first collegiate win. OU starter Hayden Fox posted seven strikeouts in 5.1 innings and allowed just one earned run, but earned no decision. Reliever Alexander Zarate (1-3) took the loss for Western Illinois.
In Game 2, Jason Hager pitched a complete game and Oakland used a pair of four-run innings to get past Western Illinois 8-1 in the nightcap. The win extended the Golden Grizzlies’ seven-game win streak and guaranteed a series victory for OU.
“Jason Hager pitched one heck of a baseball game and helped us maintain momentum throughout the game,” said Musachio. “Our hitters did a fantastic job and we really helped ourselves by jumping on a good pitcher early.”
A four-run third inning gave Oakland an early lead was never relinquished. Ryan singled to drive in Enslen with the first run of the game, before Carson delivered the big hit, a bases-loaded double that drove in three runs. The Golden Grizzlies doubled the lead with four more runs in the fourth inning, playing small ball and taking advantage of a pair of mistakes by the Western Illinois infield.
Carson, Morton and Enslen each had two hits to lead OU. Carson’s three RBIs led the team, while Ryan drove in a pair of runs. Enslen and Drumheller both scored twice as Oakland outhit WIU 9-7.
Matt Igara was 2-for-2 and drove in Dan Dispensa in the fifth inning for the only Leatherneck run. Dispensa finished the day 3-for-3 at the plate.
Hager (2-3) had four strikeouts over seven innings to earn the win. He has 23 strikeouts combined in his last three starts and has posted back-to-back complete games in Summit League play. Dustin Hunter (3-4) was the losing pitcher for Western Illinois.
Oakland will wrap up the series and an eight-game home stand on Sunday with a game starting at 1 p.m.
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