YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio. – For the first time since 2015, Oakland University Softball won the 2022 #HLSB Tournament with a 5-4 comeback win off three runs in the bottom of the sixth to clinch an automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament.
In the top of the first, the Golden Grizzlies would start off with an error on the throw off the first batter as the Colonials would get its first run off a line drive for the 1-0 lead early in the game. A triple would bring in yet another RBI with one out as a strikeout and a groundout to third would bring OU up to bat.
Madison Jones would get the leadoff double to left field to start things off for Oakland with the next three Golden Grizzlies going down. The Colonials would get another leadoff hit, advancing to second off another sacrifice bunt and leaving her there as the next two batters would go down swinging.
Jessie Munson would get a leadoff hit once again for Oakland, moving over to second off Maci Brown's sacrifice bunt. A foul out to first base followed by Shannon Carr's rocket to center field would bring in a two out RBI as she would advance to second off the throw to cut the lead down to one.
RMU would get a hit and nothing more in the top of the third as the Golden Grizzlies would turn two with one out on a 6-4-3 double play to bring Oakland back up to the plate.
In her second-straight at bat, Jones slammed a leadoff double into the center field wall right in the Penguins wordmark bringing Brummit up to the plate who would pop up but
Lauren Griffith would reach first off a walk. RMU would load the bases, walking
Jen Krizka to bring Munson up to the plate. A pitching change would get the final two outs the Colonials needed.
Neither team would make any progress in the fourth inning as Robert Morris would get two more runs in the fifth. Jones would then launch a solo shot homer over the left field wall, landing just above the stone up the hill in Youngstown to make the game 2-4.
Brummitt would be walked, reaching third off a dart from Lauren Griffith for the double with no outs. RMU would load the bases after changing pitchers a second time and walking the first batter they saw in Krizka. Two-straight force outs at home on infield grounders would be about the story the rest of the day in the stanza as Oakland would leave the bases loaded.
The Colonials would go three up and down in the sixth as Oakland would get a leadoff single from Carr. Reese Ruhlman would single on a bounce that went off the first baseman's glove to advance Carr bringing Jones back up to the plate.
The senior would drive one into the right field corner, bringing around two RBI for the triple as Carr was called safe at the plate forcing yet another Colonials pitching change. Oakland would get the lead off Brummitt's sacrifice fly to left field to bring in Jones for the 5-4 lead.
RMU was down to three outs. A groundout to third, a fly out to center, and a strikeout swinging would seal the deal for OU as the 2022 #HLSB Champions.
GAME HIGHLIGHTS
- Jones goes 4-4 at the plate with a double, a home run, and a triple to her credit with three RBI
- Munson finishes 1-3 while Carr goes 2-3 with an RBI
- Campbell rounds out the game with seven strikeouts to advance to 23-7
The selection show for the 2022 NCAA Softball Tournament will be held on ESPN2 at 7:00 p.m. tomorrow, May 15.
