ROCHESTER, Mich. — A walk-off sac fly by
Jen Krizka scoring
Cammie Brummitt was the highlight of a doubleheader sweep for the Golden Grizzlies over the Northern Kentucky Norse Saturday afternoon at the Oakland Softball Field. OU rallied from a one-run deficit in game one to finish on top, 9-4. The Golden Grizzlies claimed a 4-3 walk-off victory in nine innings in game two.
The Golden Grizzlies improved to 7-5 overall and 6-2 in the Horizon League with the Saturday sweep. The two victories clinched OU's second-straight series win in conference play as well.
Game 1: Northern Kentucky 4, Oakland 9
Senior
Jamie Squires' two doubles were the highlight of a 2-for-3 day, which included a walk and two RBIs. Sophomore
Jen Krizka put together a standout performance at the dish as well, going 2-for-3 with a double, a walk, and two RBIs. Junior
Lauren Griffith also chipped in for the Golden Grizzlies, putting together one hit in four trips to the plate while adding an RBI.
Sophomore
Sydney Campbell (5-1) started in the circle and picked up the win for Oakland. The right-hander went seven innings, giving up four runs, all of them earned, on 11 hits, allowing no walks and striking out two.
The Golden Grizzlies took advantage of seven errors by Northern Kentucky (4-12, 3-5 HL) in the Horizon League contest. Norse starting pitcher Madisyn Eads allowed eight runs in 3.2 innings of work, but only two runs were earned due to defensive mishaps.
OU got the scoring started early, putting two runs on the board in the bottom of the first inning thanks to a two-run double off the bat of Squires.
The Norse then tied the ballgame at two before the Golden Grizzlies came back to reclaim their advantage in the second inning. Oakland's lead had evaporated by the time the fourth inning came around and turned into a 4-3 NKU advantage. However, the OU bats heated up in the bottom of the fourth inning, scoring five runs, including a one-run single off the bat of Krizka.
Oakland kept the Norse scoreless before building on their lead in the sixth inning. The Golden Grizzlies pushed across a run on Krizka's one-out RBI double, bringing the Oakland advantage to 9-4. The score remained 9-4 for the rest of the game, as the Golden Grizzlies coasted to the win.
Game 2: Northern Kentucky 1, Oakland 2 (9 inn.)
The Golden Grizzlies needed nine innings to get the job done but secured the 4-3 win, as Krizka knocked in Brummitt on a sac fly for the walk-off score.
Campbell picked up the victory out of the bullpen for Oakland. She arrived in relief in the top of the seventh inning and went the rest of the way with three shutout innings. The right-hander gave up five hits but allowed no walks and struck out two. Freshman pitcher
Gracey Henckel was impressive in her first-career start, as she allowed just one run on seven hits in 4.0 innings of work.
Brummitt paced the offense with two doubles, a walk, and an RBI. Griffith put together a team-high three base hits and added an RBI. Jones also helped, going 2-for-4 with a double and a walk.
OU started its scoring with one run in the bottom of the first inning. Jones singled to get things going and came around to score on a groundout by Krizka.
After the Norse rallied to tie the ballgame at one, the Golden Grizzlies came back to retake the lead in the fifth inning. Oakland plated two runs, punctuated by a run-scoring double off the bat of Brummitt, which brought the advantage to 3-1 in favor of the Golden Grizzlies.
Northern Kentucky then rallied in the top of the seventh with two runs on three hits to tie the ballgame at 3-all. OU loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh with two outs but could not turn the opportunity into a run.
The Norse came close to taking the lead in the top of the ninth inning, as Josie Frazier singled with runners on first and second. Megan Lenhart attempted to score from second on the play but was tagged out for the final out of the frame.
The Golden Grizzlies closed the series finale in the bottom of the ninth inning with a walk-off sac fly off the bat of Krizka.
Oakland will return to action at Purdue Fort Wayne next Tuesday (March 23) for a 2 p.m. doubleheader.
Game 1 Notes
» Oakland's highest scoring inning was the fourth, when it pushed five runs across.
» Oakland went 6-for-17 (.353) with runners in scoring position.
» Squires led the Golden Grizzlies at the plate, going 2-for-3 with two doubles and two RBIs.
» Northern Kentucky was led offensively by senior Ava Lawson, who went 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs.
» Sophomore Lauryn Hicks led the Norse pitching staff, throwing 2.1 innings of one-run ball.
Game 2 Notes
» Oakland's highest scoring inning was the fifth, when it pushed two runs across.
» Oakland never trailed in the ballgame.
» Four Golden Grizzlies had multiple hits.
» Oakland went 3-for-8 (.375) with runners in scoring position.
» Northern Kentucky was led offensively by sophomore Jenna O'Hair, who went 2-for-2 with a double and an RBI.
#GrizzVision with head coach Lauren Karn