Box Score EVANSTON, Ill. – On Friday, Oakland University Softball fell 9-2 in the NCAA Regional opener to No. 9 Northwestern as the team moves on to consolation bracket play with one loss in Evanston.

Lauren Griffith would get a two-out single to fall in left field to get a hit early on the board for Oakland with two outs as the game cruised along to the bottom of the first. Northwestern would then go on to score off a triple which ricocheted off the center field wall followed by an unearned score as the Wildcats led 2-0 after one.

The Golden Grizzlies would go three up and down in the second behind two swinging strikeouts ahead of Northwestern's single up the middle but no more harm was done by the Wildcats as the second stanza concluded. 

Two batters in Reese Ruhlman and Madison Jones would be hit by pitches, advancing to third and second off Cammie Brummitt's smack to the second baseman as the third inning got underway with two outs. Jones would score off a wild pitch to bring the Wildcats back within one at 2-1. With Jen Krizka up to bat, the Illinois native would land a ball just inside the right field line to tie the game off her RBI. 

A two-out home run by Northwestern would highlight the bottom of the third as Oakland would go back up to bat once again with Maci Brown. Brown would go down on a strike out as Allisa DiPrima's bunt danced at the left field line as a tight throw by the catcher would not be enough to get the sophomore out at first. DiPrima would be left stranding, however, as Oakland would go down on back-to-back strikeouts. 

A baserunner for the Wildcats would reach on an error by Oakland with one out as Northwestern would get another run across to make the game 4-2. A diving catch on the right field line would halt Jones' attempt bringing up Brummitt once again. Oakland would get a runner on off a Northwestern error but would get nothing more out of the inning.

The Wildcats would get a three-RBI homer over the center field wall with no outs as Oakland would not have an answer as Northwestern would score five runs in the bottom of the fifth to make the game 9-2.

Oakland would once again go to the dugout empty, though Campbell would secure a strikeout in the bottom of the sixth as Northwestern would get a walk but nothing more to add to the scoreboard.

The Golden Grizzlies would end the game with Jones getting a single to second with two outs though a groundout to third would conclude the game. 

GAME HIGHLIGHTS

• Griffith goes 1-3 from the plate, Krizka 1-2 with an RBI, DiPrima 1-3 as well
• Campbell goes to 23-8 on the season with three strikeouts in the game

Oakland will play Notre Dame in the consolation bracket tomorrow, May 21 starting at 3:30 p.m. ET. The Golden Grizzlies and Fighting Irish met in the 2003 regional in Ann Arbor.