ROCHESTER, Mich. — The Oakland University softball program closed out the regular season with a doubleheader sweep over Purdue Fort Wayne on Sunday at the Oakland Softball Field. The Golden Grizzlies opened the day with a 2-1 walk-off victory and followed with a come-from-behind 3-2 win.
The series sweep clinched the No. 2 seed at the Horizon League Tournament for the Golden Grizzlies. The tournament will take place from May 13-15 in Youngstown, Ohio. Oakland will kick off the tournament against No. 3 seed UIC on May 13 (Thursday) at 3 p.m.
Game 1: Oakland 2, Purdue Fort Wayne 1
The Golden Grizzlies walked it off with redshirt junior
Madison Jones at the plate to pick up the series-clinching 2-1 win over the Mastodons in the Sunday opener.
Sophomore
Sydney Campbell (15-5) started in the circle and picked up the win for Oakland (24-14, 23-11 HL). The right-hander went seven innings, giving up just one run on four hits, allowing no walks, and striking out three. Campbell needed a minimal 77 pitches to earn her 16th complete game of the season.
In the batter's box, the Golden Grizzlies were led by Jones, who went 1-for-4 in the Horizon League contest with a triple and an RBI. Junior
Lauren Griffith put together a noteworthy day at the plate as well, going 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI. Senior
Jamie Squires also chipped in for OU, putting together two hits in two trips to the plate while adding a walk.
The Golden Grizzlies got the scoring started early, putting one run on the board in the bottom of the first inning with the game still scoreless. Jones reached scoring position with a triple and Griffith pushed her across home plate with an RBI double.
The game remained 1-0 in favor of OU for the next four innings, as Campbell and PFW starting pitcher Lauren McConnell were dueling in the circle.
Purdue Fort Wayne (12-27, 11-24 HL) then rallied to tie the ballgame at 1-1 in the top of the sixth inning, turning three singles into one run.
Oakland walked it off in the bottom of the seventh with Jones scoring freshman
Maci Brown on a fielder's choice RBI.
Game 2: Oakland 2, Purdue Fort Wayne 1
It was a closely contested ballgame, but Oakland's three-run fifth inning proved to be the difference, as the Golden Grizzlies emerged victorious in their regular-season finale, knocking off the Mastodons, 3-2.
Senior
Chelsea Wiggins (4-5) earned the complete-game win in the circle for OU. The right-hander went seven innings, giving up two runs, one earned, on five hits, allowing one walk and striking out five. She struck out the side in the opening frame and followed with punch outs in the third and seventh inning.
Offensively, the Golden Grizzlies were paced by sophomore
Jen Krizka, who went 1-for-3 with a home run and two RBI. Jones impressed as well, going 2-for-4 with a triple, her second of the day. Squires also contributed, putting together one hit in two trips to the plate while adding a double, a walk, and an RBI.
PFW answered first with a solo home run from Morganne Denny in the fourth inning. The 'Dons remained in front until the bottom of the fifth inning when OU first put runs on the board.
Oakland scored three runs in the fifth inning, highlighted by a two-run homer from Krizka.
Purdue Fort Wayne put one run on the scoreboard before the game was over, but the Golden Grizzlies still held on for the 3-2 win.
OU will return to action at the Horizon League Tournament from May 13-15 in Youngstown, Ohio.
Game 1 Notes
» Oakland earned its third walk-off victory of the season.
» The Golden Grizzlies out-hit the Mastodons at a 5-4 clip.
» Jones led the Golden Grizzlies at the plate, going 1-for-4 with a triple and an RBI.
» Jones extended her hitting streak to 16 games.
» Griffith extended her hitting streak to 10 games.
» Campbell pitched her 16th complete game of the season.
» Campbell faced 25 Purdue Fort Wayne hitters in the game, allowing 14 ground balls and four fly balls while striking out three.
» Purdue Fort Wayne was led offensively by sophomore Madeline Swart, who went 1-for-3.
» Junior Lauren McConnell led the Mastodons pitching staff, throwing 6.1 innings of two-run ball.
Game 2 Notes
» Oakland's highest-scoring inning was the fifth when it pushed three runs across.
» The Golden Grizzlies out-hit the Mastodons at a 6-5 clip.
» Jones extended her hitting streak to 17 games.
» Griffith extended her hitting streak to 11 games.
» Wiggins struck out five Mastodons hitters.
» Wiggins pitchers faced 29 Purdue Fort Wayne hitters in the game, allowing four ground balls and 12 fly balls while striking out five.
» Krizka led the Golden Grizzlies at the plate, going 1-for-3 with a home run and two RBI.
» Purdue Fort Wayne was led offensively by freshman Kennedy Steele, who went 2-for-3 with a double, a triple, and an RBI.
» Junior Jadelyn Johnson led the Mastodons pitching staff, throwing six innings of three-run ball.
#GrizzVision with Lauren Karn
