By Kristi McDevitt
Sports Correspondent
Last Monday, the Wildcats traveled to Flint Carmen Ainsworth to take on the undefeated Cavaliers.
The Wildcats won the first game of the night 6-0, and in doing so, handed Carmen-Ainsworth their first loss of the season.
Sophomore Jeremy Bukoski dominated on the mound, pitching all seven innings and only allowing 1 hit and striking out six. Offensively, Senior Brad Dugan had two hits and 2 RBI’s, and Sophomore Vinnie Ives and Senior Brett Brammer each added two hits in the victory for the Wildcats.
In the nightcap, Oxford was up 2-0 going into the bottom of the seventh with Carmen-Ainsworth at the plate and Junior Tim Shafto on the mound.
The Cavaliers lead-batter flew out to Brad Dugan in center, but the second batter got on base due to an Oxford error.
The next two Cavalier batters walked to load the bases, and the fourth hit a double that scored two runs, tying the game. Then, on the ensuing release of Shafto’s pitch, the Cavalier runner on third base made a dash to steal home just as the batter at the plate executed a perfect suicide squeeze ? a bunt down the first base line. The runner on third scored ending the game and defeating Oxford 3-2 in the non-league match-up. Oxford’s record is 5-5 overall.
Anticipating their second non-league game of the week, Oxford traveled to Flint Kearsley last Thursday.
Senior Kyle Oliver took the mound and pitched all seven innings for the Wildcats. Oliver’s four strikeouts and a solid defensive outing from the field, Oxford defeated the Hornet’s 3-1 in the first game. Tim Shafto had two hits and 2 RBIs in the victory.
In the second game, Oxford’s defense had a breakdown in the first inning and Kearsley scored six runs from four hits, an Oxford error, a walk, and a hit batter.
Oxford tried to rally back for the win, but could not overcome the early deficit and lost the game 7-5.
‘We are playing much better defense and now our bats need to become much more aggressive,? head coach Kurt Nuss said. ‘In game two we had one bad inning and need to find ways to overcome the occasional breakdown.?
Sophomore Brandon Dugan had a triple and 3 RBI’s in the nightcap.
Oxford’s is 6-6 overall.