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UNLEASH THE GRIZZ

Oakland University Athletics

Scoreboard

Team Lineup v NKU (#HLSB Championship)
4
Winner Oakland OAKLAND 21-20, 14-7 HL
2
Northern Ky. NKU 22-30, 13-9 HL
Winner
Oakland OAKLAND
21-20, 14-7 HL
4
Final
2
Northern Ky. NKU
22-30, 13-9 HL
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Oakland OAKLAND 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 4 9 1
Northern Ky. NKU 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 7 0

W: Campbell, Sydney (20-7) L: A. Flores (7-14)

2
Winner Northern Ky. NKU 23-30, 13-9 HL
1
Oakland OAKLAND 21-21, 14-7 HL
Winner
Northern Ky. NKU
23-30, 13-9 HL
2
Final
1
Oakland OAKLAND
21-21, 14-7 HL
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Northern Ky. NKU 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 2 6 0
Oakland OAKLAND 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 4 1

W: L. Hicks (11-8) L: Campbell, Sydney (20-8)

Game Recap: Softball | | David Gibson

Oakland Swings Back but Falls in #HLSB Title Match

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Oakland University Softball fought in game one but fell in game two of the 2023 #HLSB Championship to Northern Kentucky University Saturday in Green Bay, Wisconsin at King Park. 

GAME ONE // NO. 1 OAKLAND 4, NO. 3 NKU 2

The Golden Grizzlies started out on the offensive side in the game with a lot of contact but three-straight fly-outs to the outfield retired the side. The Norse then put a leadoff single up the middle in the bottom of the frame though the arm of Sydney Campbell caught the third strikeout looking to end the threat of runners on first and second.

Reese Ruhlman got OU on the board with a leadoff double in the top of the following inning, joining her over on first was freshman Kamryn Troyer after getting struck by a pitch in the hip—however, two strikeouts and a pop-up ended Oakland's scoring chances.

A single to left field followed by an RBI double by the Norse put the black and gold up 1-0 in the bottom of the second with two outs as the Golden Grizzlies did not have an answer. NKU left the bases loaded after three innings, Jenna Johnston landed a ball into right field as the freshman moved over to second off another freshman, Taylor Carraway's, walk. 

Leah Bieniewicz's bunt attempts turned into intense swings, as the ball got past her bat for the third out and left two on base in the top of the fourth. 

In the top of the fifth, a walk thrown to Maci Brown got a runner on base as she was joined by Herrington following a dropped ball in between first base and right field to put two on with one out. Jen Krizka then stepped up to bat and delivered a two-RBI double to the left-center gap. 



With a 2-0 lead in the top of the seventh, Herrington advanced over to third off the catcher Krizka's double down the left field line as the bases loaded with a walk to Ruhlman. Johnston hammered the pitcher's delivery up the middle and brought in two more RBI for a cushy 4-1 lead.



NKU managed to get one more run in the bottom of the seventh but a swinging strikeout called by the duo of Campbell and Krizka finished the first game and forced a crucial, winner-take-all second match.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
  • Johnston recorded her first double of the season; Krizka touched two on a hit twice in the game
  • The aforementioned freshman, Johnston, finished 3-4 at the plate with two RBI
  • Campbell gets her 20th win of the year (Oakland is 21-20 on the season) with one earned run, four strikeouts, and two walks

GAME TWO // NO. 3 NKU 2, NO. 1 OAKLAND 1

Campbell started game two with a looking strikeout delivered to the outside edge of the batter's box with a fly-out to right field and a pop-up to second retiring the side early. Once more, Oakland found a lot of contact in their offensive series though nothing going at the end of one.

A leadoff walk to Troyer and an excellent bunt by Johnston put both freshmen on base to start the second, both moving over by Taylor Carraway's sacrifice bunt. Mia Konyvka saw the third strikeout dropped. With the throw forced over to first base, Troyer was able to slide home for the early 1-0 lead.

Northern Kentucky got a tying RBI single in the top of the fourth as Oakland left the bases loaded following four innings of play. One more run crossed on an RBI double for NKU in the top of the fifth with only one out as Oakland continued to pour on base runners but nothing to show for it on the scoreboard.

Oakland had three outs to work with in the bottom of the seventh. Though a single to left field landed by Carraway, a swinging strikeout finished the season for the Golden Grizzlies.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
  • Oakland forced a winner-take-all game for the first time since 2019 in the tournament
  • Herrington and Krizka each went 2-4 from the plate
  • Johnston finished 3-4 with two RBI along with Krizka, who also posted two

This ends Oakland's season at 21-21 on the year with two-straight #HLSB Regular Season titles to its credit with three All-League First Teamers, an All-League Second Team, the Pitcher of the Year, and Co-Coach of the Year accolades. 

2023 #HLSB All-Tournament Team
Sydni Barnes, Northern Kentucky
Alicia Flores, Northern Kentucky
Maddie Lacer, Northern Kentucky
Ella LeMonier, Northern Kentucky
Lauryn Hicks, Northern Kentucky (Championship MVP)
Sydney Campbell, Oakland
Jenna Johnston, Oakland
Jen Krizka, Oakland
Reese Ruhlman, Oakland
Jadin Justman, Green Bay
Sophie Howell, Youngstown State
Taylor Truran, Youngstown State
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