EAST LANSING, Mich. – For the first time since 2011, Oakland University Softball defeated Michigan State on the road 10-5 in a midweek non-conference match on Tuesday at Secchia Stadium.

The Golden Grizzlies kicked off the top of the first with a walk of Madison Jones followed by Cammie Brummitt's jab into left center to put the base runners on first and second as Lauren Griffith's RBI double into center field brought the first run across for Oakland. Jen Krizka then brought Oakland's third hit of the inning off an RBI single through the left side to make it a 2-0 ball game.

Mia Konyvka then went to the circle with OU up over the power five program as the black and gold defense would make a stand, leaving two runners on after the end of the first frame. Jones' double in the second was the only action Oakland would see in the stanza as MSU mostly made quick work of the visiting team.

A two-run bomb over the left center field wall tied it up for MSU in the bottom of the second before the Golden Grizzlies would open up a monster third inning. Griffith would get a sliding, leadoff double to center field before advancing to third off a Jessie Munson single who would steal second. The bases would then be loaded off a fielder's choice of Shannon Carr as Konyvka would smack a two RBI single up the middle to lead 4-2. Allisa DiPrima singled to bring Carr home to make it 5-2 as Jones batted in her fourth home run of the year in a three-run shot to lead 8-2 after three.

Michigan State would get two runs in the bottom of the third to bring Oakland's lead back down to four runs at 8-4 as OU would get nothing going in a long fourth inning before Oakland would hold MSU to much of the same. 

Jones would continue to register hits at the plate as the redshirt senior blooped a single to right center in the top of the fifth before an error by MSU's third baseman would get Brummitt on. Griffith then sent a shot to center field for an RBI single to put the score at 9-4 in favor of OU. 

One run would get across for the Spartans as a pop-up would end the scoring threat from the green and white with runners on second and third. Both teams would mow through each other's lineups through the sixth as Oakland would get one more run as Griffith would plant an RBI single, bringing Jones across for the team's tenth run of the game.

WIth Sydney Campbell now in the circle, the LaGrange, Ohio native would get the punchout needed to defeat the Spartans after three-straight series losses since 2019.
 

The punch out to end the game. 🥊 pic.twitter.com/UlTYCzacTU

— Oakland Softball (@OaklandSoftball) April 5, 2022

GAME HIGHLIGHTS

• First Oakland win over MSU since April 27, 2011 by a score of 5-3 in East Lansing
• Jones went 3-4 with four runs and three RBI while Griffith slammed a perfect 4-4 at the plate with three RBI as well
• Jones knocks her fourth home run of the season 
• Oakland establishes new season-highs in runs scored (10), hits (14), RBI (10), and at bats (38)
• Konyvka earns her second win of the year as OU's starting pitcher, her second-straight win as well 
• Krizka and Munson each tallied two hits apiece, respectively, while Konyvka and DiPrimia had one 

Oakland will host Detroit Mercy for a Horizon League home opening series this weekend April 8-9 in Rochester, Michigan. 
 

.@madisonnjoness_ has got something to say. #GrizzVision | #DefendTheDen pic.twitter.com/RdRqdcN5qt

— Oakland Softball (@OaklandSoftball) April 6, 2022