TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Oakland University Softball pushed No. 3 Florida State to the brink Wednesday night as the Golden Grizzlies fell short in a seventh-inning push 6-5 in Tallahassee. 

A fielder's choice set Madi Herrington up at first base at the top of the first inning with two outs to bring Lauren Griffith up to the plate. With a full count, Griffith would drill a home run over the center field wall an estimated 225-230' to take a 2-0 lead early over the home Seminoles.

Sydney Campbell would begin to crank through the FSU lineup, taking two strikeouts in the bottom of the first before a pop-up to short stop would retire the side. Shannon Carr was struck by a pitch as Jen Krizka would single to right field which set up a Reese Ruhlman RBI single to right that would bring Carr around as OU found itself up 3-0.

It wouldn't take long, however, for FSU to respond as the second home run of the day belong to the home team for a two RBI shot to right as the game would hold at 3-3 with two innings down with the Seminoles' trading in a pitcher that would put away two Golden Grizzlies swinging as OU would go three up and down in the third.

Oakland's defense would respond with a stop, making quick work of FSU as the game shot to the top of the fourth quickly before seeing the same result out of the first three batters from the inning prior.

The Golden Grizzlies would commit its first of three errors on the game but would prove ultimately harmless as FSU would leave one stranded in the bottom of the fourth with the game still tied at 3-3. For the third-straight frame, Oakland would only put up three attempts at the plate as a double play would force out any Oakland hopes in the fifth.

Florida State would get one across in the bottom of the fifth for an unearned run after an OU error in an inning where the Seminoles would get two hits and a run to go up 4-3. Oakland would then get nothing out of the top of the sixth as FSU would break the game open in the bottom of the frame, going up 6-4 off an RBI single and an error.

It was in the seventh where the Golden Grizzlies would continue to put up a fight with Rulhman advancing to first off a leadoff walk, getting to second off Marci Brown's ground out to short, then to third from Madison Jones' single to the same position. 

Brummitt then singled to left field for an RBI to advance both Ruhlman and Jones to close the gap at 6-4. FSU would record the second out of the inning as Griffith dropped an RBI double to left center on a 0-2 count to bring Jones home within one run.

In the end, a ground out to second base would seal the game at 6-5 as the No. 3 Seminoles survived the Golden Grizzlies' scare.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS

• Griffith's bat was on fire as the freshman went 3-4 with three runs and three RBI
• Brummitt finished the day 2-4 with one run to her credit
• Five runs is the most FSU has allowed in their 17 game season
• Oakland left six runners stranded to the Seminoles' three
• The Golden Grizzlies tied the most errors in a single game this season at three
• Campbell is now 2-3 on the year as she allowed six runs, five earned, with four strikeouts

The Evansville Softball Invitational is on deck for the Golden Grizzlies as Oakland will play four games starting on Friday, March 4 at 9:00 a.m. against Bowling Green in Evansville, Indiana.