Oakland takes series opener, 10-3

Friday, April 29

Erv Huether Field

3 p.m.

South Dakota State University

Oakland (Mich.)

4/29/2011 7:08:00 PM | Baseball

By: SDSU Sports Info

Oakland pounded out 19 hits and starter Mark Leichtman pitched seven strong innings to propel the Golden Grizzlies to a 10-3 victory in the opening game of a four-game Summit League baseball series Friday afternoon at Erv Huether Field.

Oakland improved to 11-21 overall and 5-8 in The Summit League. League-leading SDSU dropped to 24-12 overall and 10-3 in league play.

The Golden Grizzlies jumped out to an early 2-0 lead on the strength of six hits - all singles - in the first two innings. Tim Ryan, who singled to lead off the game, scored the first run on a fielder's choice, while D.J. Jarrad came through with a run-scoring single in the top of the second.

SDSU grabbed a momentary lead with a three-run home half of the second. With the bases loaded and one out, Beau Hanowski delivered the first Jackrabbit run with a base hit to left field that scored Daniel Telford. Two batters later, Joel Blake hit a two-run single that plated Daniel Marra and Zach Briggs.

Oakland regained the lead with three runs in the fourth inning. Todd Dunham homered to left field to lead off the frame and Mike Carson put the Golden Grizzlies on top for good with a run-scoring double. Aaron Wick's single up the middle scored Carson to make the score 5-3.

OU put the game out of reach with a four-run sixth inning to chase Jackrabbit starter Stephen Bougher. Wick drove in his third run of the game with a two-out single and Aaron Cieslak delivered the knockout blow with a three-run homer to left.

Liechtman worked around five walks and stranded two Jackrabbit runners in each of his final three innings on the mound in earning his second win of the season. The right-hander surrendered eight hits and struck out four. Jake Arendsen recorded three strikeouts in the ninth as he pitched two scoreless innings to finish up.

Carson, Wick and Tommy Jablonski each tallied three hits for Oakland, which had a hit from all nine starters. Hanowski, Blake and Marra each collected two of SDSU's nine hits.

The two teams are scheduled to play a doubleheader on Saturday, starting at noon.

OAKLAND (Mich.) 10, SOUTH DAKOTA STATE 3
OU 110 304 010 10-19-0
SDSU 030 000 000 3-9-1
OU: Mark Leichtman, Jake Arendsen (8) and Ryan Waldhart. SDSU: Stephen Bougher, Austin Busse (6) and Zach Briggs.
W-Leichtman (2-3). L-Bougher (4-3). Save-none.
HR: OU-Aaron Cieslak (2), Todd Dunham (1).