ROCHESTER, Michigan - Oakland University softball closed out the Spartan Classic in Greensboro, North Carolina, on Saturday, February 29, with a victory over Appalachian State, 8-1, before falling to host, UNC Greensboro, 1-0.
Redshirt sophomore Madison Jones led the way from the plate with three hits - all three going for doubles.
Freshman Jen Krizka was the highlight in game one of the day, tallying her first collegiate home runs. Krizka is the second Golden Grizzly to hit multiple home runs in the same game - Jones finished with two against Villanova on February 22 at the Citrus Classic.
Redshirt sophomore Cammie Brummitt finished the day with two hits, including a homer against the Mountaineers. Brummitt had two RBI on the day - Krizka led Oakland with three RBI. Brummitt leads the team with five multi-hit games this season.
Junior Lauryn DeBono had a strong effort in the afternoon's contest with the Spartans. DeBono went the distance, striking out eight batters and limiting UNCG to just three hits. The lone run that came across was recorded as unearned.
The Golden Grizzlies' pitchers didn't allow a single earned run on the day.
Freshman Sydney Campbell continued her strong play in the circle, matching a season-high with eight strikeouts against the Mountaineers. Campbell went the whole weekend without giving up an earned run. She has an ERA of 1.02 through nine appearances. Campbell has thrown a complete game in six of seven starts this season.
The bats came alive late for Oakland in game one of the day, as the Golden Grizzlies posted seven runs over the final three innings. Krizka led the charge with a pair of home runs.
Oakland took the 1-0 advantage in the top of the first. Senior Rachel Zerona set the tone with a single in the game's first at bat. A ground ball and wild pitch put the senior on third with Jones coming to the plate. Jones connected for her first double of the campaign and team-high fifth extra base hit of the season to score Zerona.
Appalachian State responded though in the bottom of the frame with its lone tally of the morning. An error put a runner on the bases for the Mountaineers, and a fielder's choice with one out scored the run.
Campbell faced just one over the minimum over the next three innings before the Golden Grizzlies' bats exploded. Jones led off the fifth inning with her second double of the game. Thanks to a pair of fielder's choices and defensive miscues, Krizka came to the plate with two runs already posted and a runner on first. Her first homer of the game put Oakland up 5-1.
A Brummitt two-run shot in the sixth and a solo home run by Krizka in the final frame added some extra insurance for Oakland, 8-1.
In the afternoon's matchup with UNCG, the sides went scoreless for five innings before the Spartans hung the game's only tally.
An error with one out in the bottom of the sixth put the winning run on base for UNCG. A double advanced the runner to third to setup up a sac fly to score the run.
The Golden Grizzlies travel to Louisville, Kentucky, for the Louisville Tournament from March 6-8. Oakland will square off with a pair of Big Ten teams in Northwestern and Illinois over the five-game weekend.
