MADEIRA BEACH, Fla. – Oakland University Softball took its second win of the fresh 2023 season with a 9-7 victory over Valparaiso on Sunday afternoon in The Spring Games in Madeira Beach, Florida at ROC Park.

Madi Herrington's leadoff single benchmarked her best outing in a Golden Grizzlies jersey as the sophomore advanced to second off Reese Ruhlman's single right off the rip. Maci Brown would join these two via walk with all three crossing home plate of Allisa DiPrima's double to go up 3-0. 

 The Beacons answered in the bottom of the frame with three of their own before Alexia Grammatico's right field single got her on base. After advancing to second from a groundout to the pitcher, Grammatico crossed home with Herrington's double to center field as Ruhlman bagged another double on the ensuing at-bat to get Herrington a run for the 5-3 lead.

The bottom of the second saw Valpo get three more on the board for the 6-5 edge off a single and an Oakland throwing error. 

Brown's double up the middle in the top of the third allowed for the junior to get across home plate with DiPrima's single to left field as the game reached a tie at 6-6 heading into the bottom of the frame.

The two teams' offenses stalled until the bottom of the fifth where the Beacons doubled to bring an RBI home and the 7-6 edge. Leah Bieniewicz was walked to start the top of the sixth, moving over to second after Mia Konyvka was walked, pinch-ran by Jenna Johnston, while both athletes loaded the bases along with Herrington. 

Jen Krizka stepped up to the plate and delivered a double to left center, amassing three RBI as Bieniewicz, Johnston, and Herrington put three runs on the board for the 9-7 lead heading into the bottom of the sixth.

Sydney Campbell had stepped into the game and delivered a stout defensive showing, ending the game in the seventh off a Valpo strikeout. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Herrington finished with a career-high two hits and three runs for the sophomore, going 2-3 at the plate
• Krizka had a single hit with three RBI, a career-high
• Oakland has now won two of its games in come-from-behind fashion
• Both Campbell and Konyvka made an appearance in the circle with the win credited to the former of the two
• Oakland's five doubles tied a high from 2022 against Purdue Fort Wayne

The Golden Grizzlies picked up Siena College to the schedule for Monday, February 27 at 11:00 am in Madeira Beach, Florida.