Box Score

ROCHESTER, Mich. - The Oakland softball team executed small ball to near perfection as they edged past IUPUI 4-2 in the three-game series finale on Saturday afternoon. The host Golden Grizzlies dropped five sacrifice bunts and stole a couple of bases in the victory. 

IUPUI (7-24, 4-8 Summit) played its own version of small ball in the top of the first as senior Mia Ettl drew a leadoff walk, moved to second on Kelsey Rupert's bunt and later scored on Amy Raker's single to right center. However, Oakland (13-22, 5-4 Summit) took the lead for good in the bottom of the second against IUPUI starter Samantha Bumbaugh. 

Haley Emerson led off with a single and her pinch runner took second on an infield hit. Ashley Sullivan followed with a sacrifice bunt to third, but an errant throw allowed both base runners to score. 

OU added two more runs in the fifth before the Jags tried to claw back in the sixth. 

Raker led off the sixth with a bunt single and Laura Wilcox followed with a double, putting two runners in scoring position. After Chelsie Hale was called out on strikes, freshman Sydney Miller advanced both runners with a sacrifice fly, making it 4-2. OU reliever Alison Tansel wiggled off the hook from there though, getting Joy Perry to strike out swinging to end the inning. 

Marisa Everitt (4-6) got her second pitching win of the series, working four innings and allowing just one run. Tansel was credited with her first save of the season as she struck out two in three innings of relief. 

Bumbaugh (1-10) struck out six in defeat and Raker tossed one scoreless inning out of the bullpen. Both Raker and Hale went 2-for-3 offensively as the Jaguars outhit the Grizz, 6-5. 

IUPUI will return to action on Tuesday when it heads to SIU-Edwardsville for a doubleheader beginning at 3:00 p.m..