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Purdue Fort Wayne
Oakland
Christensen Drives in Seven as 'Dons Take Opener
5/14/2010 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 14, 2010
Rochester, MI - Junior first baseman A.J. Christensen homered twice and drove in seven runs, and senior third baseman Shaun VanDriessche hit his 15th homerun of the season as IPFW outdistanced Oakland, 14-3 on Friday afternoon at the OU Baseball Field.
The Mastodons also got another outstanding pitching performance from the duo of starter Matt Antos and reliever Matt Ransbottom.
It was the 'Dons getting out of the gate quickly, scoring two runs in the top of the first on a single by designated hitter Brett Clark.
Oakland (17-30, 8-12 SL) got one of those runs back in the bottom of the third on an RBI groundout by right fielder Aaron Cieslak.
The Mastodons would give Antos more run support in the 4th inning on a two-run single to right by right fielder Daren Boss making it 4-1.
IPFW broke out the longball in the 6th inning. Christensen hit his eighth homer of the year with two aboard after two outs. VanDriessche made it back-to-back homers with a solo shot, increasing his single season school record to 15 homers and giving the 'Dons an 8-1 cushion.
Antos began to tire a bit in the 7th inning as he relinquished an RBI double to third baseman Mike Carson. His day was done after 6.1 innings. He turned the game over to Ransbottom. Ransbottom was greeted with an RBI single by Connor Mielock making it 8-3, but that is the only hit the IPFW junior reliever would surrender.
IPFW plated three more in the top of the 8th inning and Christensen blasted his second three-run homer of the game in the ninth as the 'Dons closed it out.
Boss was 4-4 in the game with a pair of runs batted in while scoring four runs. Christensen, VanDriessche and junior centerfielder Kurt Dudley each had three hits in the game.
Antos got the win (3-6). He was responsible for all three Golden Grizzlies runs. He struck out five in the game.
Ransbottom tossed 2.2 innings to bring it home for the 'Dons. He struck out three.
Oakland starter Kyle Teague was saddled with the loss (5-7). In 5.1 innings of work, he gave up six runs (four earned) on seven hits. He struck out six and walked five.
With the win, IPFW improves to 13-35 and 9-12 in conference action. Games two and three of the series will be played on Saturday afternoon.
~Dons~
