YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Oakland University Softball split its latest #HLSB series against Youngstown State on Sunday afternoon in an extra-inning win followed by a Penguin hit-happy loss in game two.

GAME 1 // OAKLAND 2, YSU 1 (8 INN.)

Though it took extra innings to do it, the Golden Grizzlies started the game with a Madi Herrington single to second base in the top of the first with the Penguins recording a double in the bottom half of the frame and scoring via an Oakland error for the early 1-0 lead.

Both teams went three-up-three-down in the second as Maci Brown single to shortstop in the third as a strikeout ended the Penguins' side. YSU left a runner in scoring position on third the next standing with a groundout and yet another swinging strikeout by Sydney Campbell ended the threat. 

Picking up action in sixth, Brown smacked a leadoff single to center field eventually moving to second as Allisa DiPrima was struck by a pitch. Jen Krizka's single through the left side loaded the bases. 

Reese Ruhlman hit a sacrifice fly to right field, giving Brown the green light to score the tying run as YSU made two critical outs with runners on in the sixth.

Following the end of seven innings and the game tied, Brown yet again was good for a leadoff single to shortstop as DiPrima pushed her over to second off a sacrifice bunt. The junior made it over to third in Krizka's groundout and then tagged home with Ruhlman's single to third for the 2-1 lead.

Youngstown State started off the eighth with a swinging strikeout though the next batter made second via a single and a throwing error by Oakland. With a runner in scoring position, Campbell saw her tosses in a groundout to her own glove followed by the game-winning out in the form of a pop-up to shortstop.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Brown led the team, going 3-4 at the plate with two runs while Ruhlman recorded two runs batted in
• Campbell advances to 6-4 on the year as the redshirt junior clocked four strikeouts and no earned runs in 30 at-bats
• Herrington and Krizka recorded a hit as well
• Oakland took their third #HLSB win of the year despite three errors to the Penguins' zero

GAME 2 // YSU 6, OAKLAND 1

Youngstown State took a 3-0 lead after the third inning with six hits to the Penguins' credit. After a strikeout and a groundout to shortstop in the top of the fourth for Oakland, Krizka bombed her second home run of the year over the right-center wall to register the team's only run.

The Penguins recorded a single run in the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings to secure the victory and split the series.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Maraina Smith drops to 0-4 on the year in the circle after 2.0 innings of play, Hailee Jenkins seeing 0.2 innings while Mia Konyvka relieved the rest of the way with 3.1
• The Golden Grizzlies' only other hit came in Leah Bieniewicz along with Krizka's dinger

A scheduled non-conference match with Michigan State is on the docket for Tuesday, April 4 in East Lansing at Secchia Stadium against the Spartans.