ROCHESTER, Mich. - The Golden Grizzlies started off their final series of the regular season as they visited the Mastodons in Fort Wayne, looking to get their rhythm back after dropping three of the last four games.

Oakland started their scoring in the top of the second inning with a two out rally as Jenna Johnston got hit by a pitch to get things going. Brooklyn Plitz and Maci Brown followed up with back-to-back singles up the middle to load the bases making it easy for all-time RBI leader Jen Krizka to add to her season tally, connecting on another single up the heart of the field, bringing around Johnson and Plitz to score, putting Oakland up 2-0.

The Mastodons closed the gap in the bottom of the third inning as three consecutives singles by Brooke Lickey, Gwen McMenemy, and Grace Hollopeter resulted in a run scored, courtesy of Hollopeter, as Purdue Fort Wayne trailed 2-1. The Oakland defense continued its campaign as one of the best in the league, turning a double play as Herrington caught a fly ball and sent a laser of a throw to the plate, where Krizka tagged the attempted tying run out to end the inning.

In a relatively defensive game, both teams needed to take advantage of opportunities when they arose, and PFW did just that in the bottom of the fifth inning, using some small ball hitting to advance a runner into scoring position with one out. As McMenemy hit a grounder to shortstop, the throw to first sailed on Bieniewicz, allowing for the runner on second to score for the Mastodons, tying the game at two runs each. Later in the inning the Mastodons took all the momentum in the game, as Aglaia Rudd sent a towering three-run home run beyond the center field fence, putting PFW up 5-2 in a big turn of events.

Down to their last three outs in the top of the seventh inning, the Golden Grizzlies continued to fight as Brown and Krizka registered their second hits of the game, putting the tying runs on base for Oakland. In a big pressure moment, Kamryn Troyer proved to be made of diamonds as she delivered a game-tying three run homer of her own to tie the game at five apiece with two outs. Her first home run of the season couldn't have come at a better time for the Golden Grizzlies as they stayed alive in the game.

With Troyer's home run the game was sent into extra innings, setting Oakland up for their first extra inning game of the season.

With momentum on their side, the Golden Grizzlies kept their foot on the pedal in extras. Brown continued her heater of a game, doubling to left field with two outs, setting up a monstrous two-run home run by Krizka, her team-best fourth of the year to put Oakland up 7-5. After a Ruhlman walk and Taylor Carraway single, Troyer added an RBI single to her tally, scoring an extra insurance run to go up 8-5.

The defense was able to close it out as Campbell finished her eight innings pitched with a three up, three down inning to secure the win.

Big bats turned the tides for Oakland as Krizka went 3-of-3 with four RBI and a home run, Troyer hit the game-tying homer as she went 2-of-5 with three RBI. Maci Brown added three hits (3-of-5), while Plitz also reached base multiple times with two hits (2-of-4) as well.

In a game with tons of swings in momentum, Oakland seized the moment and was able to come out on top due to timely hitting.

The teams play a final double header tomorrow, beginning at 1 p.m.

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