CLEVELAND, Oh. - The Golden Grizzlies and the Vikings played their series finale on Saturday as both teams look to end the three-game stint on a high note.

Oakland used some star power to get on the board right out the gate. Jen Krizka used a hefty swing to fire a two-out solo home run over the left field wall in the top of the first inning to give Oakland a 1-0 lead. The big fly marked her team-leading third home run of the season and the 20th of her career, moving into a tie for the second most in program history.

Cleveland State evened the score in the bottom of the opening inning as a costly error on a Becky Hurosky ball hit to second base allowed a runner to sneak home from third base for the Vikings as they knotted the game up at one. Mary Newton was able to force a pop up to end the inning and keep the Vikings at bay as the teams headed into inning number two.

In the second inning the Golden Grizzlies showed no signs of slowing down. Taylor Carraway led off the inning with a single, moving to third base after a pair of groundouts from Jenna Johnston and Kam Troyer. The signature small ball hitting worked to a tee for Oakland as Madi Herrington scored her fourth hit of the series with a two out RBI single up the middle as Oakland gained a 2-1 lead.

The high scoring affair continued with CSU's turn to bat as Peyton Mueller-Stenz hit a solo home run of her own to left field, tying the game back up at two each. Newton once again answered the score, forcing a fly out and a ground out to change the side.

Cleveland State continued to match Oakland's offense. The Vikings took the momentum of the game as Emma Gilkerson slammed a two-run home run, putting CSU up 4-2 in the bottom of the second inning and cutting Mary Newton's day short for the Golden Grizzlies.

The scoring pace held up for Oakland as well in the top of the fourth as Carraway doubled to start the inning. Carraway made her way home as Troyer grounded into a fielder's choice, but an error at third base by the Vikings gave Carraway enough daylight to cross the plate and make the game 3-4.

Brown earned her second hit of the day with a double to start the fifth inning. Oakland id a lot of good hitting early as the Brown hit marked the fourth leadoff hit of the day for the Golden Grizzlies. Brown advanced to third base on a Ruhlman groundout, but with the go-ahead run at the plate and a runner on third with two outs, Oakland struck out to end their half of the inning and remained behind 3-4.

The Vikings gave themselves more of a cushion in the sixth inning as Sophie Spellman hit an RBI single to give them a 3-5 lead, which proved to be enough to earn the win as Oakland went scoreless in the sixth and seventh innings as the Vikings avoided the series sweep.

Despite the loss, Oakland out-hit CSU seven to six. The Oakland bats really found their rhythm in this series, and if the performances hold steady then the Golden Grizzlies are definitely trending towards another deep postseason run.

Maci Brown went 3-4 from the plate, showing amazing versatility in the leadoff spot. Carraway also earned multiple hits, going 2-3. Herrington earned a hit for her fourth hit in three games, while Krizka's homer added to her RBI total on the season.

Gilkerson propelled the Vikings to the series-ending win as she made the most of her two at bats with two hits, a home run, and a pair of RBIs.

The Golden Grizzlies return home where they will gear up for their home opening series against YSU which begins on Friday, April 5 at 3 p.m.

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