GREEN BAY, Wis. - The Golden Grizzlies take a 2-0 advantage in their series against Green Bay as the two teams battle for the first time this season.

Game 1

The Golden Grizzlies started the day off with a busy first inning as Brooklyn Plitz and Maci Brown earned back-to-back singles to kick off the game. An errand throw to first base on Brown's single allowed both to advance a base, putting two runners in scoring position for Oakland with no outs in the top of the first inning. With top batter Jen Krizka at the plate, Oakland got an unlucky bounce on a grounder to third base where the Phoenix tagged Plitz out at third and relayed the throw to first in time for out number two.

With a runner still on second base, Reese Ruhlman stepped up to the plate for the first time after a two game absence due to an ankle injury and immediately made an impact, scorching a line drive up the middle for an RBI single to grant Oakland the early 1-0 lead.

The top of the second inning begun the same way as the first for the Golden Grizzlies, this time with Maggie Murphy and Madi Herrington notching back-to-back one out singles, putting runners on first and second for Oakland. After a Johnston ground out, Plitz once again delivered at the plate, smacking a roller all the way to the right field corner, scoring both runners and using her blazing speed to touch all four bases and earn an inside the park home run to boost Oakland's lead by three more runs, going up 4-0 in the top of the second inning. Brown and Krizka would deliver another pair of singles before the inning's end, but the runs would stop at three as a fly out ended the big inning for the Golden Grizzlies.

Oakland knocked eight hits in the first two innings, taking command at the plate and giving starting pitcher Sydney Campbell plenty of room to work. The reigning #HLSB Pitcher of the Year had another dominant start, allowing just one hit through the first three innings, retiring nine of ten batters to start.

The pressure didn't let up for Oakland in the top of the third inning as Madi Herrington launched a fly ball to left field where the Green Bay fielder bobbled the catch, allowing Murphy, who reached on a fielder's choice, to scoot home and increase the lead to 5-0 for the Golden Grizzlies.

After a silent fourth, Oakland was back at it in the top of the fifth inning as a one-out single by Carraway set up a RBI double from Leah Bieniewicz to put Oakland up 6-0 as the Golden Grizzlies tacked another run onto their lead.

The Phoenix tried to make some noise late in the sixth inning as Madyson Baker doubled down the right field line with one out. Paige Hanson followed up with a single to put runners at the corners, but Bieniewicz made a crucial play, diving for a fly ball in foul territory and recording the out to move Oakland one step closer to getting out of the jam. Campbell continued to deal, forcing a fly ball as Green Bay remained scoreless heading into the final inning.

With one last chance to add to the lead, the Golden Grizzlies had their most dominant inning of the game. Ruhlman was hit by a pitch in the first at-bat of the frame, earning a free base. With Allissa DiPrima in to pinch run for Ruhlman, Troyer sent a heater over the fence for a ground rule double, scoring DiPrima and putting Oakland up 7-0. The very next batter, Bieniewicz connected with a pitch and came up a few inches short of a home run, earning her second double of the day instead as another run scored to make the score 8-0. Herrington added the finishing touches with a liner up the heart of the infield, earning her first RBI of the day as Oakland went up 9-0.

Green Bay tacked on a run in the final inning, stopping Campbell from a fourth straight shutout win, but the senior still closed out the game for victory number 12 with a 9-1 win over the Phoenix.

Oakland connected for a hit 14 times, tying their season high. Plitz led the way, going 3-of-4 with a season-high three RBI, reaching a five-game hitting streak, and her first career home run. Herrington, Brown, and Carraway all went 2-of-4, while Bieniewicz had her best hitting game of the season, going 2-of-2 with a pair of doubles and a couple RBI as well.

Game 2

After a wire-to-wire win in game one, the Golden Grizzlies looked to sweep day one of their series at King Park as they took the field for the second and final game of the day.

After scoring just one run in the opening game, the Phoenix reached that tally in the first inning as an error and two walks to start the bottom half of the inning loaded the bases, where Hailey Heckenlaible singled to the right side to score the opening run of the game and give Green Bay a 1-0 lead. After a force play out at home the next batter for the first out of the inning, Balcom recorded a strikeout and a groundout to stop the deficit from growing too much as Oakland remained down 1-0 going into the second inning.

The Phoenix found themselves in scoring position once again in the bottom of the second as a Kaylin Fahy single and a Bella Herman double put runners on first and second with one-out. Despite a rough start to the inning, Balcom stayed composed and forced a fielder's choice and another strikeout to end the inning, once again keeping Oakland within striking range.

After an explosive first game at the plate, the Golden Grizzlies found that same power at the plate in the top of the third. Johnston started the inning with a leadoff single, putting a runner on to set up Brown's two-run home run to right field, putting Oakland in the lead 2-1. With the bases now cleared with two-outs, Ruhlman followed up with a single and Carraway with a double to right center field, putting a pair of runners back into scoring position on second and third base. A big at-bat with two outs, Troyer doubled Oakland's lead as she hit a two RBI double perfectly into the gap, putting Oakland up 4-1 as they flipped the script on the Phoenix.

Green Bay tried to retaliate in the bottom of the fifth inning as a Heckenlaible single and back-to-back hit by pitches loaded the bases for Balcom and the Golden Grizzlies. Just like the second inning, the defense of Oakland prevailed and kept the Green Bay offense stagnant, keeping their lead and escaping the inning still in the lead by a score of 4-1.

The Golden Grizzlies put the finishing touches on the game in the top of the seventh inning. Their final time in the batter's box started with a leadoff triple from Brown, leading to an RBI single from Krizka to make the score 5-1. After a pair of outs put Oakland on the brink of returning to the defensive side of the ball, Troyer added a triple of her own, adding another run to the scoreboard for Oakland. The cherry on top came as Green Bay's catcher mishandled a pitch from pitcher Ava Schill, allowing Troyer to waltz home for a 7-1 lead.

Green Bay would respond in the bottom of the seventh inning on a solo home run from Samantha Saloun made the score 7-2. Paige Hanson followed with an RBI triple to close the deficit to four runs with the score at 7-3, while Jordan Meng scored a RBI single as the score reached 7-4 and the Phoenix held runners at first and second with two outs left in the game. Oakland forced a final ground out to second base, ending the game and securing the win.

Brown dominated at the plate for Oakland, going 2-of-3 in the game with two RBI and a home run, her first of the year. Plitz earned a hit to keep her hitting streak alive, now at six games, while Troyer went 3-of-4 with three RBI. Herirngton also earned a pair of hits (2-of-4).

Oakland looks to score their first series sweep of the season in the series finale tomorrow at 12 p.m. ET at King Park.

FOLLOW OAKLAND

Stay up to date on everything Oakland Softball via social media platforms Instagram and Twitter @OaklandSoftball.