MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. — The Oakland University softball program split its Friday doubleheader against the Robert Morris Colonials at the North Athletic Complex. The Golden Grizzlies won the opener, 10-1, while RMU rallied back to take game two, 4-3.
Game 1 (6 innings): Oakland 10, Robert Morris 1
Oakland (8-6, 7-3 HL) took a 2-0 lead in the first inning and never trailed for the remainder of the Horizon League contest en route to a 10-1 win over RMU (11-9, 6-6 HL) in the Friday opener.
Sophomore Sydney Campbell's (6-1) dominant stretch in the circle continued, as she earned a complete-game win for the Golden Grizzlies. The right-hander went the distance, giving up one run — unearned — on three hits, allowing one walk, and striking out three. She allowed no hits and just one walk from the fourth inning on.
The Golden Grizzly offense slugged a season-high three home runs along with two doubles in the victory. OU knocked in runs in five of the six frames, including two or more runs in four separate innings.
Redshirt junior Cammie Brummitt led the way, going 3-for-4 in the ballgame with a home run and two RBI. Senior Jamie Squires and Lauren Griffith combined for two long balls and four RBI. The trio of Madison Jones, Jen Krizka, and Rachel Zerona contributed with two hits apiece.
Oakland struck early by scoring twice in the first inning, including one on a solo shot from Griffith. The Colonials then gained ground, narrowing the lead to 2-1 until the Golden Grizzlies expanded their advantage in the second. Oakland scored twice on Brummitt's two-run homer, which brought the Golden Grizzlies lead to 4-1.
OU kept Robert Morris without a run before building their lead to 6-1 in the fourth inning. The Golden Grizzlies added two runs when a single from Krizka scored Brummitt and Jones.
Oakland held the Colonials without a run before their offense got things moving the next inning. The Golden Grizzlies scored once on an RBI single off the bat of Zerona, bringing the Oakland advantage to 7-1.
The Golden Grizzlies expanded their lead to 10-1 in the sixth inning, when Squires drilled a three-run home run scoring Jones and Griffith. The score remained 10-1 for the rest of the game, as the Golden Grizzlies coasted to the win.
Game 2: Oakland 3, Robert Morris 4
Oakland had a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the sixth inning, but could not hang on and fell 4-3 to Robert Morris in the Friday rematch.
Senior Emily Karas, in her first start of the season, allowed two runs on four hits in 3.2 innings in the circle. She held the RMU offense hitless until the bottom of the fourth inning.
Freshman Gracey Henckel (0-1) relieved Karas in the fourth frame. She went on to strike out three of her first four batters faced but gave up a two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth inning, which proved to be the winning hit for the Colonials.
At the plate, the Golden Grizzlies were paced by Krizka, who went 1-for-3 on the day with a double and an RBI. Brummitt, Squires, and Griffith also recorded hits for an OU offense that was limited to four hits.
The Golden Grizzlies got the scoring started early, putting one run on the board in the top of the first inning. Oakland got on the board thanks to Krizka's RBI double with two outs.
The Colonials failed to push any runs across before the Golden Grizzlies offense got back to their scoring ways the next inning. Senior Jessie Munson came across to score the lone run of the inning for Oakland, which brought the Golden Grizzlies lead to 2-0.
Oakland held RMU scoreless before building their lead to 3-0 in the fourth inning. The Golden Grizzlies were unable to hold the lead, as Robert Morris scored four times over the remaining three innings, punctuated by the two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth inning, to grab the 4-3 win.
OU will be back in action tomorrow for a noon doubleheader against RMU. Both games will stream on ESPN3.
Game 1 Notes
» Four Golden Grizzlies had multiple hits in the ballgame.
» Oakland recorded a season-high three homers.
» The Golden Grizzlies out-hit the Colonials at a 13-3 clip.
» Eight players in the OU lineup tallied a hit.
» Oakland went 3-for-9 (.333) with runners in scoring position.
» Robert Morris was led offensively by freshman Faith Miller, who went 1-for-1 with an RBI.
Game 2 Notes
» Munson stole a team-high two bases and scored one of OU's three runs.
» Squires stole her second base of the season.
» Oakland pitchers faced 25 Robert Morris hitters in the game, allowing four ground balls and eight fly balls while striking out five.
» Krizka led the Golden Grizzlies at the plate, going 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI.
» Robert Morris was led offensively by junior Erika Bell, who went 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBIs.
» Junior Dana Vatakis led the Colonials pitching staff, throwing seven innings of three-run ball.
