MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - The Golden Grizzlies traveled for their second consecutive in-state competition as they faced off against CMU in their second of two midweek games this week.

The Golden Grizzlies got off to a hot start as Brooklyn Plitz, who started the day batting leadoff for the first time this season, immediately got to work, singling through the left side of the infield to start the game. Reese Ruhlman followed up with a perfectly placed bunt single, advancing Plitz and immediately putting runners on first and second for Oakland. Jen Krizka reached base for the second straight game in the three spot, reaching on an error as the Golden Grizzlies had a bases loaded situation with no outs to start the game. After a Maggie Murphy line out in her return to the lineup, Kamryn Troyer stepped up to bat. The steady sophomore hit a hard hit ball to third base, and with decisions to make, the Chippewas threw home and applied the tag on Plitz, holding Oakland scoreless with two outs. The Golden Grizzlies popped out to end the top of the inning, with no runs on the board, leaving the bases loaded.

Sydney Campbell was on fire from the second she stepped into the circle for Oakland. Over the first two innings Campbell struck out five of the six batters she faced and didn't allow a runner until a Maddie Springer double kicked off the third inning for CMU. In a bases loaded jam with no outs later in the inning, Oakland's stellar defense held strong as Jenna Johnston made a heads up play on a ground ball to make the throw home to keep the game scoreless and put an out on the board. Campbell would throw strikeout number six and Johnston would make another big play, snagging a liner for the final out of the inning as the Golden Grizzlies got out the inning unscathed.

After a quiet fourth inning, Oakland crossed the plate for the first time in the top of the fifth. Maci Brown started the inning with a leadoff single, eventually moving to third base after a sacrifice bunt from Allisa DiPrima and a groundout by Plitz. Brown took advantage of a wild pitch from CMU pitcher Grace Lehto, easily scoring to put Oakland up 1-0.

Oakland threatened to make some more noise at the plate in the top of the sixth as Mia Konyvka stepped in to pinch hit for Herrington and fought through a long at back to draw a walk. She was followed by Johnston who singled, and Brown who was hit by a pitch to load the bases with two outs. Lehto would continue her solid day on the mound, throwing her third strikeout of the game as CMU this time escaped the bases loaded situation, but still trailed to the Golden Grizzlies 1-0.

Campbell continued to deal in the circle, tossing strikeout number nine as she held the Chippewas scoreless in yet another half inning as Oakland moved three outs closer to a victory heading into the final inning.

Oakland was able to get another runner in scoring position to start the seventh inning as Reese Ruhlman reached first base on a throwing error, then stole second base with one out in the inning as Oakland looked to gain some insurance runs. Krizka stepped up to the plate and delivered just that as she blasted a hard-hit RBI double, just missing her third home run of the year, scoring Ruhlman to put Oakland up 2-0. After a Murphy pop out, Taylor Carraway stepped in to pinch hit and delivered a RBI double of her own, bringing Krizka home and cushioning the Golden Grizzlies lead to 3-0, putting the game in the hands of their ace Campbell for the final three outs of the game.

CMU battled in the last half inning, using a Tailynn Knapp single and a Abbey Toimie double to put runners on the corners for the home team. Carly Sleeman knocked an RBI double down the left field line, scoring a pair of runs for the Chippewas as the Oakland lead shrank to 3-2 with one out in the bottom of the seventh. Campbell would deliver a huge strikeout to push CMU to two outs. She would deliver one last strikeout to end the game and secure Oakland's 3-2 victory.

Campbell pitched her fifth complete game of the season, tying a career-high 11 strikeouts, which she last did on April 9, 2022 against Detroit Mercy. She continues a stellar 2024 campaign as she earned win number six and has totaled 47 strikeouts and a 2.04 ERA in 68.2 innings pitched.

Oakland tallied seven hits in the game, their most in their last four games. Krizka went 2-4 with an RBI. Plitz, Ruhlman, Carraway, Brown, and Johnston all earned hits in the game as well. Carraway's big RBI double in her pinch hit appearance in the top of the seventh inning was key to closing out the win.

"We were unable to score early in the first inning, but Syd worked us out of a couple jams and our defense helped. We're excited to finish on top in a close game like that," said Oakland Interim Head Coach Sam Henderson after the win. "This was a big momentum win for us. We want to win close games and we want to keep doing so moving forward with a big conference series coming this weekend".

The Golden Grizzlies return to league play this weekend as they head to Cleveland State this weekend, playing a double-header beginning at 1 p.m. on Friday, Mar. 29 and a series finale on Saturday, also at 1 p.m.

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