ROCHESTER, Mich. — The Oakland softball program welcomes Northern Kentucky for doubleheaders on Friday, March 19, and Saturday, March 20, at the Oakland Softball Field. The opening doubleheader will begin at 2 p.m., while Saturday's doubleheader is set for a 1 p.m. start. Live stats will be provided for all four games.
Spectators will be permitted in the raised berm area beyond the outfield fence. Spectators are required to practice social distancing and to wear face coverings/masks when watching the game.
Click here to view spectator seating.
* It is recommended for spectators to bring chairs, blankets, and water bottles to each game. Bleacher seating and concessions will not be available due to COVID-19 protocols.
WEEKEND INFORMATION
March 19 | 2 p.m. |
Live Stats
March 19 | 4 p.m. est. |
Live Stats
March 20 | 1 p.m. |
Live Stats
March 20 | 3 p.m. est. |
Live Stats
SCOUTING THE NORSE
The Norse opened the season with six-straight losses but have gone an improved 3-3 in their last six games. NKU split with Green Bay in a tightly contested first weekend of Horizon League play as all four games were decided by one run. The pitching staff excelled against the Phoenix with a 0.90 ERA and 30 strikeouts.
Sophomore ace Lauryn Hicks has led NKU pitchers with a 3.50 ERA in seven appearances. She ranks first on the team in wins (three), complete games (three), innings pitched (36.0), and strikeouts (39). Freshman outfielder Ella Lemonier has paced the offense by hitting a team-best .367 with two extra-base hits and one RBI. Redshirt senior outfielder Ava Lawson has provided pop in the lineup with two doubles, one triple, two home runs, and five RBI.
ALL-TIME VS. NKU
The Golden Grizzlies hold a 7-5 advantage in the all-time series. The two programs last met in the 2019 Horizon League Softball Championship, when NKU bounced OU out of the tournament with a 3-2 win.
Shannon Carr batted 3-for-3 with a double, while
Jessie Munson went 1-for-3 at the plate with an RBI in the loss.
Lauryn Debono impressed in the circle by allowing one run on one hit while striking out three in 4.0 innings of work.
HOME AT LAST
Friday's matchup will end a 692-day stretch without regular-season competition at the Oakland Softball Field. Oakland last played at home in its Senior Day against Green Bay on April 27, 2019. The Golden Grizzlies finished the 2019 campaign with a 6-5 home record.
WEEKEND RECAP
Oakland won three out of four matchups against the IUPUI Jaguars last weekend. The Golden Grizzlies opened the road trip with a pair of come-from-behind wins. OU trailed 3-0 heading in the fifth inning of game one but evened the score at 7-all in the seventh inning and scored three runs in the ninth to capture a 7-5 victory. IUPUI got out to an early 2-0 lead in game two, but four runs by Oakland in the third inning pushed the Golden Grizzlies to a 6-3 win.
A five-run second inning by IUPUI was the difference-maker in game three, as the Jaguars held on to win the matchup, 7-5. OU responded in the series finale with a commanding 12-1 win in five innings.
TOP OF THE CONFERENCE
The Golden Grizzlies sit atop of the Horizon League Softball standings at 3-1. OU was the lone school in the conference to collect a series win last weekend. Eight programs are currently tied for second place at 2-2. IUPUI ranks last in the standings at 1-3.
BEST START
OU is off to its best start in conference action since joining the Horizon League in 2014. Oakland's previous best start through four conference games was 2-2 in 2015, 2016, and 2018.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Redshirt junior first baseman
Cammie Brummitt earned Horizon League Player of the Week after hitting .412 with one triple, three home runs, seven RBI, and six runs scored at IUPUI. She slashed .412/.412/1.059 and opened the series with a home run in three-straight games. On the season, Brummitt leads OU in batting average (.370), hits (nine), triples (one), RBI (nine), runs (nine), on-base percentage (.469), and OPS (1.247). Dating back to last season, she has reached base in 10-straight games.
HOT START FOR JONES
Redshirt junior third baseman
Madison Jones is batting .333 with three doubles, three home runs, eight RBI, and seven runs scored. She leads the Golden Grizzlies with six extra-base hits, a .778 slugging percentage, and three stolen bases. The 2018 HL Freshman of the Year went 2-for-4 with two home runs and 3 RBI in Oakland's most recent game against IUPUI (3/13).
POWER SURGE
The Golden Grizzlies rank second in the Horizon League in slugging percentage (.427) and fourth in home runs (seven). Brummitt and Jones are tied for third in the conference with three home runs apiece.
HITTING IS CONTAGIOUS
Oakland ranks second in the Horizon League with a .273 batting average. Brummitt, Jones,
Lauren Griffith, and
Jen Krizka are currently batting above .300 for the Golden Grizzlies. OU has pounded out double-digit hits twice this season, including a season-high 15 at IUPUI (3/12).
CONSISTENT IN THE CIRCLE
Sophomore pitcher
Sydney Campbell is 2-1 with a 2.69 ERA in 26.0 innings in the circle. She has recorded two complete-game wins in four starts and has allowed just one run in her last 7.2 innings pitched. Campbell made three appearances (two starts) in the IUPUI series, going 1-0 with a 2.05 ERA.
NEWCOMERS
OU welcomed six newcomers — all freshmen — to the program last fall. Four of the six freshmen come from Michigan. The other two newcomers arrive on campus from Ohio and Indiana.
#HLSB PRESEASON POLL
The Golden Grizzlies were picked fourth in the Horizon League Softball preseason coaches poll. Oakland was one of two teams (UIC) to receive a first-place vote in the poll. UIC was projected to win the conference with 99 points and nine of the 10 first-place votes.
