ROCHESTER, Mich. – Jen Krizka's career, two home run day gave Oakland University Softball a 13-1 win against Metro Series and #HLSB rival Detroit Mercy at Buysse Ballpark on Tuesday afternoon. 

Despite Allisa DiPrima's double in the top of the first, the Golden Grizzlies' offense had to warm up in the opening Metro Series match as the Titans wasted no time with four hits and a run in the first two innings.

Down 1-0 heading into the third with two outs on the board, Maci Brown was walked and stole second with DiPrima reaching first on the second-straight walk thrown by the Titans. Ironically, bases would be loaded off Krizka's walk while Reese Ruhlman was hit by a pitch to tie the game 1-1 after three.

Leah Bieniewicz singled to left field, advancing to second off Jenna Johnston's single up the middle while both came around off Brown's double for the 3-1 edge. DiPrima's RBI single through the left side granted Oakland a cushion of 4-1 at the end of four.

Brown found herself on first off a single to center field as Krizka came up to bat once again. The redshirt junior knocked her third home run of the season over the left-center wall to bring two RBI home to start her career day as the Golden Grizzlies led 6-1. 

I mean would you look at this.

🤩🤩🤩 pic.twitter.com/aSzb1hGVuS

— Oakland Softball (@OaklandSoftball) April 11, 2023

In the top of the seventh inning, the Golden Grizzlies' bats had heated up just enough to pop seven more runs on the board. Madi Herrington smacked a leadoff single to left center, advancing to second as Makayla Jauregui got on base off a walk. 

Pinch hitter, Alexia Grammatico loaded the bases once more off yet another walk thrown by UDM as Johnston's RBI single to center field kept the bases loaded while Brown did the same through the left side.

Oakland led 9-1 with only one out on the board as Krizka stepped into the batter's box once more, planting her foot into the dirt and delivered her second home run of the day with the bases loaded, giving a grand slam and four RBI for the 13-1 advantage. 

Bases loaded? No problem. 😏 pic.twitter.com/H8EFx61kOy

— Oakland Softball (@OaklandSoftball) April 11, 2023

Detroit Mercy did not have an answer, going three-up-and-down in the bottom of the frame with grounders to second, short, and third as the Golden Grizzlies stole the win in Detroit.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Krizka notches a career-high two home runs in a single game, going 2-4 at the plate with a walk and a strikeout
• Brown follows up with a 3-4 appearance with three RBI
• Krizka's six RBI are the second-most by a Golden Grizzly behind alum Madison Jones who once had seven against Villanova in 2020
• Once again, Krizka's two homers tie the single-game record for home runs in a game with teammate Lauren Griffith, who delivered two dingers against UIC on 4/5/22
• Herrington and Johnston also went 2-4 at the plate
• Sydney Campbell picks up win number nine (9-4) in the circle with no earned runs and five strikeouts with 29 batters faced

The Golden Grizzlies will wrap up the series with Detroit Mercy on Wednesday, April 12 starting at 2:00 pm for a doubleheader at Buysse Ballpark on ESPN+.