Softball Opens Up Season With Weekend at Southern Georgia

ROCHESTER, Mich. - The Golden Grizzlies are set to take the diamond for the first time this season as they head to Southern Georgia to take on a weekend slate of games in the GATA Challenge.

The Golden Grizzlies are coming into the season with a fresh slate under new head coach Chris Stelma along with eight new freshman and transfer acquisitions.

Many familiar faces still spearhead the Oakland team, including All-League talents in Kamryn Troyer, Reese Ruhlman, and Brooklyn Plitz who are all exceptional two-way players for the team.

Other returning talent include starters Madi Herrington, Jenna Johnston, Taylor Carraway, and All-Freshman pitcher Alyssa Balcom.

Oakland opens up the weekend with a showdown against the host team, Georgia Southern, on Saturday, Feb. 22 at 12:30 p.m.

The Eagles come into the weekend with a 4-5 record. They have bested the Golden Grizzlies in each of their five all-time meetings, but the teams have not met since 2014.

The Golden Grizzlies will play their second of two Saturday games at 5:30 p.m. as they take on Fairfield.

The two squads have only met once in their histories, with Oakland securing a 1-0 victory in 2019.

Fairfield has endured a rough start to the season, coming into the GATA Challenge with a 1-4 record, riding a four-game losing streak.

Oakland will close out the weekend with another two-game set on Sunday, Feb. 23, facing off with Fairfield once more at 9:30 a.m. and Campbell University 12 p.m. to finish off the weekend.

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Players Mentioned

#7 Madi Herrington: UTL; 5' 4"; Sophomore; R/R

#14 Reese Ruhlman: SS/UTL; 5' 8"; Senior; R/R

#6 Taylor Carraway: 3B/C; 5' 6"; Freshman; R/R

#00 Jenna Johnston: IF; 5' 7"; Freshman; R/R

#24 Kamryn Troyer: OF; 5' 6"; Freshman; R/R

#20 Alyssa Balcom: P/1B; 6' 1"; Sophomore; R/R

#15 Brooklyn Plitz: OF; 5' 3"; Sophomore; L/L

Players Mentioned

#7 Madi Herrington
: 5' 4"; Sophomore; R/R
: UTL

#14 Reese Ruhlman
: 5' 8"; Senior; R/R
: SS/UTL

#6 Taylor Carraway
: 5' 6"; Freshman; R/R
: 3B/C

#00 Jenna Johnston
: 5' 7"; Freshman; R/R
: IF

#24 Kamryn Troyer
: 5' 6"; Freshman; R/R
: OF

#20 Alyssa Balcom
: 6' 1"; Sophomore; R/R
: P/1B

#15 Brooklyn Plitz
: 5' 3"; Sophomore; L/L
: OF