YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — The Oakland University softball program's historic 2021 season came to an end against the No. 3 seed UIC Flames, 4-3, in the Horizon League Championship game at YSU Softball Field. 

Despite playing in a season unlike any other due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Golden Grizzlies broke school records in conference wins (23), home wins (18), batting average (.299), slugging percentage (.450), and fewest strikeouts (154). Individually, redshirt junior Madison Jones scored a record-breaking 52 runs and became the program leader in career home runs with 22. Senior Jamie Squires concluded her storied Oakland softball career with a program-best 103 runs batted in. 

OU (26-16, 23-11 HL) faced a possible day one elimination at the Horizon League Championship after losing its opening game to UIC, 5-1. However, the Golden Grizzlies battled their way to the title game with consecutive victories over No. 4 seed Robert Morris, 5-4, and No. 1 seed/tournament host Youngstown State, 3-0. 

Sophomore pitcher Sydney Campbell (17-7) took the loss in the circle to UIC. The right-hander went six innings, giving up four runs, three earned, on five hits, allowing two walks and striking out two. Campbell went 2-2 with a 2.59 earned run average in 27.0 innings of work at the Horizon League Championship. A four-hit shutout against YSU in the semifinals highlighted her impressive week. She was one of two pitchers in the conference to earn Horizon League All-Tournament honors.

At the plate, the Golden Grizzlies were led by the junior duo of Cammie Brummitt and Lauren Griffith, who tallied three hits apiece. Brummitt slammed a solo home run in the seventh for OU's second extra-base hit of the game. Griffith put Oakland on the scoreboard with a two-run single in the fifth. Jones also contributed for Oakland, putting together two hits in four trips to the plate while adding a double. Squires helped out as well with a single in the second inning. Oakland out-hit the Flames (28-21, 23-11 HL) at a 9-5 clip but stranded a total of seven baserunners. 

The offensive trio of Jones, Griffith, and sophomore Jen Krizka were named to the Horizon League All-Tournament team following the conclusion of play on Saturday. Both Jones and Griffith batted .583 over four games, while Krizka had a team-best five RBI. 

OU opened the contest with three-consecutive singles, but UIC starting pitcher Marley Hanlon induced a double play and pop up to get out of the frame unscathed. The Golden Grizzlies threatened in the second inning as their first two batters reached base. However, the Flames prevented a run by retiring the next three OU batters to keep the game tied, 0-0. 

UIC garnered a 2-0 lead in the bottom half of the second inning, scoring on a sacrifice fly and adding a second run on an error. The Flames combined for two runs in the third and fourth inning to extend their advantage to 4-0. 

The Golden Grizzlies put runs on the board in the fifth inning to reduce their deficit to 4-2. Griffith drove in two runs for Oakland in the frame with a single that scored junior Sidney Rayba and Jones. 

OU kept the deficit at 4-2 before closing the gap further in the top of the seventh. Oakland picked up a run on Brummitt's one-out solo home run, which tightened the Flames lead to 4-3. Griffith picked up a two-out single later in the inning, but the Golden Grizzly rally fell short, resulting in a 4-3 loss. 

2021 #HLSB All-Tournament Team
Sydney Campbell, Oakland
Lauren Griffith, Oakland
Madison Jones, Oakland
Jen Krizka, Oakland
Marley Hanlon, UIC (MVP)
Dee Dee Caskey, UIC
Samantha Ferguson, UIC
Maica Ingles, UIC
Kayla Wedl, UIC
Alex DeLeon, Youngstown State
Nikki Saibene, Youngstown State
Faith Miller, RMU

Game Notes 
» Jones extended her hitting streak to 20 games.
» Jones batted .583 with seven hits, six runs, and two doubles in the tournament.
» Griffith extended her hitting streak to 15 games.
» Griffith batted .583 with seven hits, one double, and three RBI in the tournament.
» Brummitt led the Golden Grizzlies at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a home run and an RBI.
» Campbell recorded her 20th complete game of the season.
» Campbell faced 25 UIC hitters in the game, allowing nine ground balls and seven fly balls while striking out two.
» Campbell went 2-2 with a 2.59 ERA in 27.0 innings over the course of the tournament.
» The Golden Grizzlies out-hit the Flames at a 9-5 clip.
» The Golden Grizzlies got three-hit games from both Brummitt and Griffith.
» Oakland's highest scoring inning was the fifth, when it pushed two runs across.
» UIC was led offensively by senior Kayla Wedl, who went 2-for-3 with a double.
» Hanlon led the Flames pitching staff, throwing seven innings of three-run ball.