YOUNGSTOWN, Oh. - The Golden Grizzlies take their first trip of the season to Youngstown, Oh. as they took the field for the first time in this year's Horizon League Championship, taking on Cleveland State.

In the first inning of play the Vikings stepped to bat and made some noise as Brooke Albaugh singled for CSU's first hit. After a sacrifice bunt moved her to second base, Becky Hurosky knocked a singled down the right field line, forcing a close play at the plate for Albaugh. Originally called safe, the play was reviewed and confirmed to officially put the Vikings up 1-0. 

The Golden Grizzlies took advantage of some CSU miscues in the early part of their first at bats, as Brooklyn Plitz drew a four pitch walk and Maci Brown reached first on a dropped third strike, putting runners on first and second with no outs in the bottom of the first inning. Reese Ruhlman did what she has all season in big moments, this time dropping a hit right over the head of first base, bringing Plitz around to score and knot the game up at one run apiece at the end of the inning.

Sydney Campbell continued a very good outing early on, and after three innings of pitching she earned three strikeouts and allowed just three hits while forcing a good amount of fly balls and ground outs by the Vikings. Aside from the run scored in the top of the first, the Vikings didn't have a runner advance past first base in the first three frames.

Plitz caused havoc on the basepath once again to start the bottom of the third inning for the Golden Grizzlies, earning an infield single to third base. She would advance to second base on a Krizka groundout and steal third one batter later, moving the go-ahead run just one base away. Already with one RBI to her name, Ruhlman got a hold of a pitch and sent it to deep left field. Looking like it may leave the park, the ball was tracked down just short of the wall, ending the inning and keeping the game tied.

With both pitchers and defenses in a duel, hits were hard to come by, with both teams combining for just five hits going into the sixth inning.

In the top of the sixth the Vikings used a drawn hit by pitch to Albaugh, a single by Melissa Holzopfel, and a walk to Emma Gilkerson to load the bases with two outs. The Golden Grizzlies defense stood tall once again as shortstop Jenna Johnston tracked down a long fly ball all the way into left field to get the inning-ending out and keep it tied.

Up to bat in the bottom of the seventh Oakland had three more outs to end the game before extras. Up to bat with one out, Madi Herrington blasted a ball to deep left center field. Just like Ruhlman's near homer earlier in the game, Herrington's hit fell into the left fielder's glove just inches short of the fence. A groundout ended the inning and into extras for the first time at this year's #HLSB Championship.

The Golden Grizzlies defense continued an amazing day as Troyer made an amazing diving catch in center field to start the top of the eighth inning. Later in the inning with a runner on second and two outs, Campbell made sure to keep the score even, tossing strikeout number six on the day to turn over the inning.

In the bottom of the opening extra inning Plitz impacted the game with her speed once again, dropping a single into left center field and stealing second base to put the go-ahead run in scoring position with two outs for Oakland. However, a groundout straight to first base ended the inning and moved the game into the ninth frame.

The Vikings loaded the bases with one out in the ninth after a bunt single by Peyton Mueller-Stenz, a walk to Kylie Gorsuch, and a single by Kiera Frascone. With the game potentially on the line, Oakland made the force out play at home to put two outs on the board. As composed as she has been all game, Campbell stepped into the circle and tossed strikeout number seven on the day, getting the Golden Grizzlies out of the bases-loaded jam.

In the bottom of the tenth Oakland was back up to bat, looking to walk off for the second time this season. CSU pitcher Holzopfel reached ten strikeouts on the game as the Golden Grizzlies remained frigid at the plate.

As the marathon continued Oakland's defense continued to grow stronger. With a runner on second and two outs in the top of the 11th, Albaugh hit a deep double to left field for the Vikings. With the runner rounding third and headed home, Herrington collected the ball and relayed a throw to Brown, who then sent it home where Krizka applied the tag on the runner to end the inning, still tied 1-1.

Plitz earned her second hit of the game to leadoff the bottom of the 11th inning with another infield single, reaching second on a grounder by Brown the next at-bat. With another runner in scoring position, a lineout straight to the shortstop halted the Golden Grizzlies' momentum, ending the inning.

 The Vikings broke the  nearly 11 inning long tie in the top of the 12th inning as Hurosky knocked an RBI double to left field, bringing home the go-ahead run to put CSU up 2-1.

Holzopfel continued a career day, striking out the final three Oakland batters, finishing with 14 strikeouts as Oakland fell 2-1.

The game, lasting 12 innings, ties the league record for second longest Softball Championship game, the longest since a pair of 12 inning games in 2007.

Campbell tossed a career-high 12 innings pitched along with nine strikeouts. Plitz earned three of Oakland's four hits, going 3-of-4.

Oakland turns around to play NKU in a win or go home game at 6:05 today.

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