ROCHESTER, Mich. – On Friday, Oakland University Softball stayed alive in the 2023 #HLSB Tournament in a dramatic finish to the semi-finals with Northern Kentucky while blanking Youngstown State in the elimination game at King Park. 

SEMI-FINALS // NO. 3 NKU 4, NO. 1 OAKLAND 2 (8 INN.)

The Norse got two hits and left two stranding after their side of the first inning with the Golden Grizzlies going three up and down in theirs. A three-up-and-down appearance by NKU brought Oakland back up in the bottom of the second where Oakland did the same as the game glided along.

The first hit of Oakland's day belonged to Jenna Johnston who landed a single in the gap between second base and center field with nothing more coming out of it.

NKU got a run off a sacrifice bunt in the top of the fourth for the 1-0 lead as Sydney Campbell ends the scoring threats with a looking strikeout to retire the side. In the bottom of the frame, Madi Herrington was walked in the leadoff at-bat, moving over to second through Jen Krizka's sacrifice bunt while Reese Ruhlman joined the left fielder on first on yet another walk.

However, both runners stayed stranded as the Norse struck out the next two batters. Heading into the bottom of the seventh, Oakland had three outs to work with down 2-0 where the freshmen trio of Taylor Carraway, Johnston, and Kamryn Troyer went to work.

With Carraway on first, Johnston delivered a double to put each runner in scoring position. Troyer then stepped up to the plate and smacked a two-RBI double to knot things up and force extra innings in Northeast Wisconsin. 

TIE GAME! @kamryn_troyer drives in two runs and @OaklandSoftball is level in #HLSB championship game eight!

B7: NKU 2, OAK 2

📺: https://t.co/MNJIJe4MLw pic.twitter.com/pHVY6H7d92

— Horizon League (@HorizonLeague) May 12, 2023

Unfortunately, Northern Kentucky put two more runs on the board to win the semi-final game 4-2 in eight innings. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Troyer gets the only two RBI of the game one off a double; Jen Krizka, Ruhlman, and Johnston each with one as well
• Herrington drew two walks as the team was struck out eight times though the eight innings

ELIMINATION GAME // NO. 1 OAKLAND 2, NO. 6 YSU 0

Despite loading the bases to start the second game, Oakland went back to the dugout with nothing to show for it at the end of an inning in the elimination game. 

In the bottom of the third, Herrington reached first base off a fielder's choice, coming all the way around by the catcher Krizka's triple that nestled itself into the right field wall corner where the redshirt junior then scored all the way around off a bad throw from the outfield.

RBI TRIPLE by @jen_krizka and then she comes around to score on an error to make it 2-0 for @OaklandSoftball in #HLSB game nine!

B3: OAK 2, YSU 0

📺: https://t.co/dOJjtN4M2j pic.twitter.com/0ymX40cTKq

— Horizon League (@HorizonLeague) May 12, 2023

Offenses stalled for both teams in the ensuing innings, only a single here or there speckled the box score play-by-play heading into the seventh inning of play at King Park. A quick groundout to third followed by a lineout to short and a swinging strikeout ends the game with a 2-0 victory.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Krizka goes 1-2 with an RBI and a walk; Ruhlman also goes 1-2 at the plate
• Campbell gets back in the win column, her 19th of the season, with three strikeouts
• The last time the #HLSB Championship needed the If Necessary Game was 2019

Oakland will be in a rematch with No. 3 Northern Kentucky in the title match on Saturday, May 13 at 1:00 pm ET/Noon CT at King Park on ESPN+ in a must-win situation for the Golden Grizzlies.