By BRITTANY OCHTINSKY

Senior Reporter

After a slow start to the season — the Golden Grizzlies had just two wins in the first 14 games of the season – Oakland University’s baseball team made up some much-needed ground as Summit League play opened last weekend. Oakland took three of four matchups with Western Illinois.

April 4 — WIU 6, OAK 1

Junior Dan Ryan got the Grizzlies on the board in the fourth inning of Friday’s contest when he hit his first home run of the season. Oakland held a 1-0 lead until the bottom of the sixth, when Western Illinois picked up two runs. The Westerwinds added another run in the seventh and three in the eighth to hand Oakland its sixth consecutive loss.

Senior Mike Takashima (0-2) pitched 6.2 innings for Oakland, allowing four hits and three runs, one of which was earned. Senior Ben Darga entered the game in relief, allowing two hits and three earned runs. Eric Eden picked up the win on the mound for Western Illinois.

April 5 — OAK wins both, 11-5, 5-0

In the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader, senior Dustin Joffrion, juniors Andrew Stafford and Taylor Traub and redshirt freshman Ryan Waldhart each scored a pair of runs for the Grizzlies, who won their first game since March 9.

Senior pitcher Matt Trausch improved his record this season to 2-3, allowing only one run in the fourth inning.

Trausch gave up nine hits in the eight innings he pitched and senior Dan Stinthcombe pitched a perfect ninth to close out the victory.

After falling behind 1-0, the Grizzlies hammered home seven runs in the fifth to put the game out of reach, adding three in the eighth and one in the ninth.

In the nightcap, freshman pitcher Greg Welke (1-2) allowed only two hits in the shutout for Oakland.

Junior Rob Merkle and Ryan each scored runs for the Grizzlies in the first. Ryan added another in the third and Stafford rounded out the scoring for Oakland in the seventh inning.

Freshman Scott Sexton had three of Oakland’s four RBIs.

April 6 — OAK 11, WIU 9

The Grizzlies found themselves playing from behind in most of Sunday’s finale, but the runs came when it mattered most, as Oakland scored seven runs in the ninth inning to clinch the win.

Stafford tied the game 9-9 when he belted a grand slam in the ninth, bringing home Merkle, junior Justin Wilson and freshman Eric Ogg. Traub scored the game-winning run and sophomore Keith Kampe added an insurance run. Western Illinois was unable to respond in the bottom of the ninth to give Oakland a third straight win.

Ogg and Waldhart each scored in the third on a Ryan double, Sexton scored in the fourth, Merkle in the fifth and Waldhart added another in the ninth.

In a game that saw six Oakland pitchers on the mound, it was freshman Mark Leichtman who picked up his first career win, pitching 0.2 innings.

April 8 —Oak 4, WMU 3

After the victories over the Leathernecks, the Golden Grizzlies kept their win streak going with a 4-3 decision over cross-town rival Western Michigan University Tuesday.

The best things came in pairs for Oakland, as Joffrion led the Grizzlies with two hits, they put up two runs in each the fourth and sixth innings, Sexton and Traub each had two RBIs and Stafford finished the game with two runs.

His first run came in the fourth, when Traub grounded out to second. Ryan also scored earlier in the inning.

Stafford struck again in the sixth, along with Sexton, who scored on Traub’s double.

Western threatened to rally late in the game, pulling within a run in the eighth inning. But the Grizzlies were able to sustain the win, holding off the Broncos in the final inning.

Redshirt freshman pitcher Aaron Wick was credited with the win in his debut, pitching six innings, giving up only two hits and two runs, one earned.

The Golden Grizzlies will take the field against another state rival, Eastern Michigan University, at 3 p.m. Wednesday, April 9.

From there, OU will begin a three-game series against Summit League foe South Dakota State University.