ROCHESTER, Mich. – The Golden Grizzlies walked off not only the first game of the doubleheader against Cleveland State but also the second to take the series 2-1. Oakland won game one in nine innings with a score of 6-5 while they took game two in eight with a 4-3 score.
In game one,
Mikayela Marciniak got the Golden Grizzlies on the board first as she singled up the middle to score
Kelsie Swanson.
Lauren Griffith then picked up two RBI as she doubled to left field to bring in
Jamie Squires who reached on a fielder's choice and
Brittney Miller who walked.
Oakland would add two more runs on one hit in the bottom of the third as they took advantage of an overthrow to first, a very costly error by the Vikings defense.
The Vikings of Cleveland State would score three runs on four hits in the top of the fourth before tying the game in the top of the sixth off of two RBI doubles.
Heading into extra innings, Oakland would finally get some offense going as
Shannon Carr singled to left field to start the bottom of the ninth inning.
Jessie Munson walked it off for the Golden Grizzlies as she doubled to left center, allowing the speedy Carr to come all the way around to score.
Lauren Griffith had one hit and two RBI in the contest while Swanson, Munson, Marciniak, Squires and Carr each added a hit of their own.
Emily Karas picked up her second win of the season (2-6) as she tossed 4.2 innings, giving up seven hits.
Kayla Marburger would pitch 2.1 and
Lauryn Debono tossed 2.0 in the nine inning win.
In game two of the evening, the Vikings scored first in the second and that's how it stayed all the way through the fourth before the Oakland offense came alive.
Brittney Miller and
Lauren Griffith drew back to back two out walks before
Jackie Reitmeyer hit a bomb over the center fielder's head, good for a bases clearing double.
Jamie Squires would knock in one more run in the bottom of the fifth to extend the lead to two going into the sixth.
Cleveland State would tie the game at three in the sixth, where it would stay tied until the eighth.
Rachel Zerona led off the eighth with a single down the left field line and
Kelsie Swanson laid down a sacrifice bunt, moving her to second. For the second game in a row,
Jessie Munson would send a laser out to center that the Viking's center fielder couldn't handle, dropped, and allowed the walk-off run to cross the plate.
Lauryn Debono picked up her sixth win of the season (6-4) throwing a complete 8.0 inning game, giving up eight hits and striking out five.
The Golden Grizzlies will return to action Friday, Apr. 26 and Saturday, Apr. 27 as they take on Green Bay in their final Horizon League matchup. In addition, on Saturday the five Oakland seniors will be honored for their years of dedication to the Oakland Softball program.
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