YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — The Oakland University softball program dropped a pair of games to the Youngstown State Penguins, 3-2, 8-3, on Friday evening at the YSU Softball Field. 

Game 1: Oakland 2, YSU 3

The Golden Grizzlies broke their eight-game win streak with a 3-2 loss to the Penguins in the series opener. 

Sophomore pitcher Sydney Campbell (10-3) started and took the loss in the circle for Oakland (16-10, 15-7 HL). The right-hander pitched a complete game, giving up three runs, all of them earned, on eight hits, allowing no walks, and striking out a season-high six batters. 

Redshirt junior Cammie Brummitt led the way offensively for the Golden Grizzlies, going 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Senior Rachel Zerona also contributed, going 1-for-3 with an RBI. Redshirt junior Madison Jones provided pop in the lineup with a double in the third inning. 

As a team, Oakland was limited to four hits, which was its second-lowest total of the season. Despite the shortage of hits, OU managed to threaten with multiple runners on base in three separate innings. However, the Golden Grizzlies could not push across runs in two of the three frames. 

The Penguins (25-9, 18-4 HL) struck early with a pair of runs in the opening frame. YSU capitalized on a throwing error in the bottom of the third inning to extend its lead to 3-0.

Trailing 3-0, the Golden Grizzlies first put runs on the board in the top of the fourth inning. The duo of Brummitt and Zerona notched RBI singles to close OU's deficit to one run. 

The score remained 3-2 in favor of Youngstown State for the remainder of the Horizon League contest, as Penguin starting pitcher Maddi Lusk did not allow a Golden Grizzly to reach base in the final three innings of play. 

Game 2: Oakland 3, YSU 8

A five-run spurt by the Penguins in the fourth inning was too much for the Golden Grizzlies to overcome, resulting in an 8-3 loss to YSU in the Friday rematch. 

Jones led the offense by going 2-for-3 at the plate with a triple and a home run. On the day, the Romeo, Mich., native had three extra-base hits. Brummitt batted 1-for-4 with a solo homer in the seventh inning, which marked the sixth-straight game she has tallied an extra-base hit, while junior Lauren Griffith went 2-for-4 with an RBI. 

Senior pitcher Chelsea Wiggins (2-3) started and took the decision for Oakland in the defeat. She allowed seven earned runs on four hits, allowing three walks, and punching out three in 3.1 innings of work. Campbell went the rest of the way, giving up just one run on two hits while striking out four in 2.2 innings in the circle.

Once again, the Penguins jumped out to an early advantage, as YSU's Avrey Schumacher hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the first inning. Jones responded with a solo homer over the left-field fence in the top of the third frame to minimize OU's deficit to 3-1. 

The Penguins turned two hits into five runs in the fourth inning to extend their lead to 8-1. A three-run home run off the bat Maddi Lusk was the difference-maker in the frame.

Down 8-1, Oakland scored twice in the top of the seventh, punctuated by a solo home run to center field from Brummitt. However, OU could not muster any further offense, clinching the day one sweep for the Penguins.

The Golden Grizzlies will return to action tomorrow for a 1 p.m. doubleheader against YSU.  

Game 1 Notes
» Campbell pitched her fifth-straight complete game.
» Campbell recorded a season-high six strikeouts.
» Campbell faced 27 Youngstown State hitters in the game, allowing eight ground balls and three fly balls while striking out six.
» Brummitt hit a double for the fifth-straight game.
» Brummitt led the Golden Grizzlies at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI.
» Jones tallied her 15th extra-base hit of the season.
» Oakland hit 3-for-8 (.375) with runners in scoring position.
» Youngstown State was led offensively by Jillian Jakse, who went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI.
» Maddi Lusk led the Penguins pitching staff, throwing seven innings of two-run ball.

Game 2 Notes
» Brummitt hit an extra-base hit for the sixth-straight game.
» Jones hit her team-leading fourth triple of the season.
» Jones hit her fourth home run of the season.
» DiPrima garnered her second hit of the season.
» Munson hit her second double of the season.
» The Golden Grizzlies out-hit the Penguins at a 7-6 clip.
» Oakland pitchers faced 28 Youngstown State hitters in the game, allowing three ground balls and eight fly balls while striking out seven.
» The Golden Grizzlies drew four walks from Youngstown State pitching.
» Youngstown State was led offensively by Avrey Schumacher, who went 1-for-2 with a home run and three RBI.
» Buffenbarger led the Penguins pitching staff, throwing seven innings of three-run ball.