Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
Oakland
Softball Needs Extra Innings to Down Oakland, 5-3
4/14/2010 6:40:47 PM | Softball
Eagles move to 11-2 all-time against the Golden Grizzlies
Box score.
ROCHESTER, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University softball team needed a pair of runs in the top of the eighth inning to escape with a 5-3 non-conference victory over Oakland University Wednesday, April 14, here at the OU Softball Field. The Golden Grizzlies forced the extra frames with a two-out, three-run rally in the bottom on the seventh, but the Eagles plated a pair of run in the ensuing inning to capture the hard fought victory.
Eastern Michigan improves to 13-20 on the season, while Oakland falls to 13-26. With the victory, the Eagles improved to 11-2 all-time against the Golden Grizzlies in a series that dates back to the 2000 campaign. The contest was a makeup from an April 6 tilt that was postponed due to unplayable field conditions.
Senior Jessica Patterson (Ionia, Mich.-Ionia) was the offensive star for EMU, going 3-for-4 at the plate with a triple, a stolen base and three of RBI in the victory. Freshman Katy Blaharski (Carleton, Mich.-Airport) was just as effective as the dish, collecting three hits in four appearances, to go along with a pair of stolen bases. Sophomore Kaylee Tolliver (Amanda, Ohio-Clearcreek) drove in the go-ahead run in the eighth with a sacrifice fly to left to end the day 1-for-2.
Freshman Jillian Williamson (Sebewaing, Mich.-Unionville-Sebewaing Area) picked up her third win, after escaping jams in both the seventh and eighth, to even her record at 3-3. Senior Michelle Hletko (Westmont, Ill.-Westmont) went 6.2 innings before bowing out during OU's seventh inning rally, scattering nine hits and striking out four on the day.
The Eagles jumped on the board in the second inning to take the early 1-0 edge. Sophomore Allison Scherer (Stow, Ohio-Stow-Munroe) got on base after being hit by a pitch before advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt by Tolliver. Patterson promptly plated her with a single to right center for her third RBI of the year.
Things remained that way until the fifth when Patterson led off the stanza with a triple to left that was bobbled by the fielder allowing her to cross home to up EMU's advantage to 2-0. Two batters later Blaharski singled up the middle and would eventually come around to score on a passed ball to make it 3-0 in favor of the visitors.
Oakland was finally able to get its offense in gear in the bottom of the seventh inning to force the extra frames. Down to their last out and the bases loaded, Kylie Schalz tripled to center to knot the contest at 3-3. Williamson relieved Hletko in the circle to get out of the inning and end the threat.
EMU quickly jumped on Alison Tansel in the top of the eighth, with a trio of singles by Nellie Coquillard (Niles, Mich.-Niles), McKenna Russ (North Canton, Ohio-Hoover) and Scherer. Coquillard would score on the a sac fly off the bat of Tolliver and with Russ following on a single by Patterson.
The Green and White return to Mid-American Conference action Friday, April 16, with a doubleheader against Ohio University. Game time is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Varsity Field. Eastern then hosts the University of Akron for a pair of single games on both Saturday, April 17, and Sunday, April 18.
