ROCHESTER, Mich. - The Golden Grizzlies took the field for a series-opening double header to kick off their final trio of home games, hosting Robert Morris.

Game 1

Sydney Campbell got the nod in the circle for Oakland, and was back to her usual dominance, retiring the first 7 batters she faced, striking two out, and  allowing no hits in 2.1 innings to start the game.

Oakland earned their first base runners in the bottom of the second inning as Reese Ruhlman drew a leadoff walk, advancing to second on a Kamryn Troyer single. Taylor Carraway advanced the runners another base each with a sacrifice bunt, placing both in scoring position on second and third base with one out in the inning. Robert Morris, a team known for their defense, stood up to the test. Madi Herrington flew out to right field, and with the fly ball looking deep enough to tag up and score from third, Oakland took the chance, but Logan Black charged up a throw from right field, firing it straight to home to get the out and end the inning, keeping the game scoreless.

Robert Morris put their first potential runs on base in the top of the third as a double by Meadow Sacadura and a hit by pitch drawn by Alaina Koutsogiani put runners on first and second base with one out. Campbell continued to deal, striking out batters three and four to end the top of the inning.

The Golden Grizzlies got on the scoreboard first in the bottom of the third, as a leadoff walk to Plitz began the frame. Maci Brown leaned into a pitch over the plate and sent it to a gap along the right field line to score Plitz and put Oakland up 1-0.

The Colonials struck back in the top of the fifth as a walk to Koutsgianni and a single by Kaylyn Hopf to start the inning. With one out, Resnik grounded into a fielder's choice, and a bobble of the ball trying to turn two for the Golden Grizzlies turned into a run for RMU, tying the game at one apiece.

With the game taking a turn favoring the offense, Herrington started the bottom of the fifth with a leadoff triple. After a pair of outs the next two batters, Plitz delivered a line-drive double to left center, allowing Herrington to waltz home to break the tie and give Oakland a 2-1 lead. Brown added to the inning run tally, lobbing a double into right center field, giving the lightning quick Plitz to speed home from second as the Golden Grizzlies now led 3-1.

In the top of the seventh RMU put on their rally caps, loading the bases after reaching on an error and back to back singles from Kopf and Resnik to load the bases with one out left in the game. Catalina Saxen, top hitter on the Colonials, stepped into the box and tied the game with a single to center field, tying the game at three, guaranteeing a bottom of the final inning to be played. Avery Winchell took the lead for RMU with a single, giving the Colonials a 4-3 lead. A fielder's choice added a couple more runs to their lead, and a double by Jess Mathney, another score on an error, and a two RBI triple from Koutsogiani bumped the lead to 9-3 in favor of the Colonials. The Golden Grizzlies put Mia Konyvka in to record the last out of the inning as she forced a pop up, putting the game in the hands of the Oakland bats.

Oakland was unable to manufacture a run in their final three outs, ending their six game league winning streak, falling 9-3 in game one of the series.

Plitz (2-of-4) and Brown (2-of-3) combined for four of Oakland's seven hits. Troyer (1-of-3) earned a hit as well, extending her streak to ten games, the longest by a Golden Grizzly this season.

Game 2

Oakland took back to the field, looking to bounce back after an opening-game collapse as Alyssa Balcom took the circle.

Reese Ruhlman brightened the mood for Oakland, slamming a two-run home run over the left field fence in the bottom of the first inning, putting Oakland up 2-0 and igniting a spark into the team. The homer is her second at the Oakland Softball Field this season, the most of any player.

RMU made efforts to even the score in the top of the third inning after reaching on a walk and a dropped third strike, but Alyssa Balcom continued to impose her will, using the assistance of a couple plays at second base by Lexi Grammatico to end the inning and escape the jam still in the lead at 2-0. In 3.2 innings of action, Balcom allowed just two hits and forced eight ground outs in one of her best starts of the season.

Back up to bat in the bottom of the fourth, Oakland found their rhythm as a single from Taylor Carraway, followed by one from Herrington put runners on the corners with two outs. After a mound visit, RMU starting pitcher Jane Garver delivered a strikeout to end the inning, keeping the score still at 2-0 in favor of Oakland.

The Golden Grizzlies put their efforts towards another potential two-out push in the bottom of the fifth, where Krizka and Brown placed singles into the outfield, putting runners on first and second. Ruhlman drew a walk to load the bases once again for Oakland, but a line out straight to the right fielder ended the scoring threat and the inning as Oakland's lead remained 2-0.

The Colonials added to the score in the top of the sixth as Charlotte Grover hit a leadoff single, followed by a fielder's choice and a single by Matheny, loading the bases with no outs. With Maraina Smith now in the circle for Oakland, Jaimee Hardy blooped a two RBI single right near the right field line, tying the game at two. 

In the top of the seventh inning the Colonials showed more late game heroics, as a single from Grover set up a two run, go ahead home run by Courtney Poulich, giving RMU a 4-2 lead.
Down to their final three outs, Grammatico drew a four pitch walk to start the inning, putting the tying run on base. After a pair of strikeouts to the top of the order, Krizka drew a walk, putting runners on first and second for Oakland with two outs. The Golden Grizzlies weren't able to bring the runs home, flying out to end the game and fall 2-4.

The 0-2 start to the series marks the first regular season conference series loss by Oakland since losing a series to Cleveland State on Apr. 23, 2022.

Krizka was the only Oakland player with multiple hits, going 2-of-3, while Ruhlman's first inning home run manufactured the only runs for the Golden Grizzlies in the game.

The teams return to the field for Oakland's senior day and their final home game of the season tomorrow at 1 p.m.

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