ORLANDO, Fla. – Madison Jones' leadoff home run put Oakland University Softball out front early against the No. 4 Florida Saturday evening at The Knights Classic Presented by Knight Pass before falling to the Gators 6-1 in later innings.

Jones wasted no time getting Oakland on the board with a lead-off home run to take the lead against the Gators 1-0 before the next three batters found their plays put into UF defensive gloves.

Florida reached first off an error by the Golden Grizzlies before a double followed by a single up the middle allowed the blue and orange to gain the 2-1 lead in the bottom of the first. Both team's defense would hold up as neither squad would get more than three or four batters through the top of the fifth inning.

It wasn't until the bottom of said frame where the number four team in the country positioned themselves with two runners on with a two RBI double to go up 4-1 over Oakland before a stolen base set up a sac fly to tack on one more. The final scoring play for Florida started with a bunt and an advance to second ahead of a RBI single to right center that opened the gates for a 6-1 Florida lead.

The Golden Grizzlies would attempt to answer but suffered two-straight strikeouts and a put out at second to retire the side. The Gators would threaten once more in the sixth as a batter would single to third base off a bunt and steal second on the ensuing pitches. Two fly-outs to the outfield bailed Oakland out as the team would have one final chance at the plate.

Shannon Carr would ground out to shortstop before Madi Herrington would strikeout swinging. Arieanna Grammatico singled down the left field line to get on base with two outs before Jones' ground out to third finished with her at bat just as the game had begun as OU fell 6-1. 

GAME HIGHLIGHTS

• Jones and Grammatico were the only Golden Grizzlies with hits 
• Florida would utilize three pitchers in the outing as Sydney Campbell was credited with her first loss of the season
• Jones hit the first home run of the season for Oakland
• Campbell faced 22 batters giving up six runs, five of which earned for a season ERA of 3.43
• Each team tallied an error as the Gators would edge OU in hits, 8-2 

Oakland will look to rebound in game four of The Knights Classic with a match against Ole Miss in Orlando on Sunday, February 27 at 11:00 a.m.