ROCHESTER, Mich. - Summit League play resumed on Friday afternoon after a midweek vacation with the Iowa game at Modern Woodmen Park with the opening game between Oakland and Western Illinois. A cold day was made even colder as Western Illinois dropped the opening game 11-5.
Oakland committed two errors to start the top of the second inning. Austin Cowen stood at second after the first error charged to the left fielder before the Oakland third baseman was unable to field a Bryan Jordan ground ball that allowed Cowen to score. Danny Marcuzzo extended his hitting streak to 11 games with his third home run of the season to put Western Illinois up 3-0.
Matt Igara doubled to right center to start the third inning. He swiped third base before John Koszulinski brought Igara home with a ground out to first base.
The home team answered with three runs in the bottom of the third inning powered by four hits.
Dan Russell (4-4) took the hill to start the sixth inning but was unable to record an out as a single, throwing error and a walk forced the Purple & Gold to make a pitching change. Travis Pedersen was able to work his way out of the inning allowing just one more run. After six innings the Grizzlies led 7-4.
A sacrifice bunt from Dan Dispensa drove in the fifth run of the ballgame, as Anthony Kaskadden was able to score after reaching via error.
Oakland broke the game open with four more runs in the bottom of the eighth inning. Back-to-back doubles highlighted the inning. Western also offered some help with its third error of the game.
Russell went 5.0 innings, striking out six while allowing six runs on nine hits. Pedersen and Beau Below collaborated for the final three innings of work.
Marcuzzo continues his impressive month of April with two more RBI. During the month, Marcuzzo is hitting ,368 with a .605 slugging percentage. the junior has hit two home runs and collected 23 total bases. Dispensa and Koszulinski both added an RBI. Igara and Kaskadden both collected stolen bases.
Mark Leichtman (1-3) went 7.0 solid innings allowing two earned runs and striking out five Leathernecks. Kyle Bobolts went 2.0 innings and did not allow a hit.
Tim Ryan and Aaron Wick both went 3-for-5 on the afternoon. Wick added three RBI to the offensive attack for Oakland.
The two teams will be back in action with a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 12 p.m. (ET) at OU Field.
