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UNLEASH THE GRIZZ

Oakland University Athletics

Scoreboard

sb vs wmu 2024
3
Winner Western Michigan WMUSB2~1 12-14
2
Oakland OAK 9-10
Winner
Western Michigan WMUSB2~1
12-14
3
Final
2
Oakland OAK
9-10
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Western Michigan WMUSB2~1 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 3 5 3
Oakland OAK 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 4 1

W: GREMILLION,J (1-0) L: Newton, Mary (1-2)

Game Recap: Softball | | Gracie Murray

Golden Grizzlies Can't Hold off Late WMU Rally, Fall 3-2 in Home Opener

ROCHESTER, Mich. - The Golden Grizzlies stepped onto the Oakland Softball Field for the first time this season as they faced off against the Western Michigan University Broncos.

Taylor Carraway started the party with the first hit of the game in the bottom of the second inning with a one-out single to shallow right field. Madi Herrington followed up with a double to right center field, moving Carraway to third base and putting runners on the corners with just one out. Broncos pitcher Rissa Bajusz locked in after a rough start, striking out the final pair of Oakland batters to retire the side and keep the game knotted at zero.

With the bats at bay on both sides, Oakland flashed their top-notch defense in the top of the third inning as WMU's Brendtke hit a one-out single in the top of the third inning, but was soon sent back to the dugout after Taylor Carraway fired a missile to second base as Brendtke was caught stealing, clearing the bases. Alyssa Balcom earned her second strikeout of the game to flip the sides.

In the bottom of the fourth inning Jen Krizka regained her rhythm after a hitless last game, starting the inning with a lead-off single up the middle. Oakland's bat would once again stall as Bajusz tossed her third and fourth strikeouts of the game, followed by a caught fly ball in foul territory to end the inning, keeping the score at 0-0.

The Broncos broke the nearly five inning long scoreless streak in the top of the fifth as Riley Dittmar knocked a two-out double to left field, bringing around the inaugural run of the game, putting Western Michigan up 1-0.

Oakland wouldn't trail for long as In the bottom of the sixth inning, Maci Brown singled to left center. Krizka kept it rolling as she reached first on a Broncos error, where Brown was able to reach the plate and tie the game at one a piece.The scoring wasn't done for Oakland as Kamryn Troyer reached on base by a fielder's choice, followed by Carraway's second hit of the game as she delivered a two-out single to juice the bases once again. In a heads up play the next at bat, Carraway was caught in a pickle at first, but Troyer made the heads up decision and snuck home before the inning ended the put Oakland up 2-1.

Just three outs away from victory, the Golden Grizzlies faced a tough seventh inning. WMU fought back, showing patience at the plate as Riley Chumbley pinched hit and did her job, smashing a double to left field with one out. Later in the inning with two outs, bases loaded, and a full count, the Broncos scored a two RBI single to take a 3-2 lead. Mary Newton forced a fly out to end the inning.

Oakland fought till the very end, making solid contact with a couple pitches in the bottom of the seventh, but nothing materialized as Oakland fell 3-2. 

Alyssa Balcom started in the circle for the Golden Grizzlies. She pitched 4 innings, only allowed 2 hits and threw two strikeouts. She retired 12 of the 16 batters she faced.

"Alyssa's doing a great job for us and getting us in good positions to win. Mary did a great job as well coming and closing too. I'm excited about that and our defense is making plays behind them," said Oakland Interim Head Coach Sam Henderson about her team's defense.

Krizka, Carraway, Herrington, and Brown all went 1-3 at the plate for Oakland's four hits of the game.

"It was a really close ball game and we had a chance to win it in the bottom of the seventh. We just keep talking about learning and how we are going to win games like this come the end of the year in another close game situation," said Oakland Interim Head Coach Sam Henderson. "I think we need to have better quality at-bats early on to really give our offense a chance".



The Golden Grizzlies are back in action tomorrow against Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant at 3 p.m. 
 

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