DETROIT, Mich. — Despite a strong showing at the plate and a complete game effort in the circle from freshman Kenna Bommarito, the Golden Grizzlies fell just short in a 4-3 loss to Horizon League rival Detroit Mercy on Tuesday afternoon at Buysse Ballpark.

The Golden Grizzlies racked up 10 hits and had three extra-base knocks, but were ultimately undone by a two-run fifth inning from the Titans that broke a 2-2 tie.

Bommarito went the distance for Oakland, allowing just one earned run on seven hits while striking out five. She also contributed at the plate with a 2-for-3 performance and an RBI.
Detroit Mercy struck first in the bottom of the opening frame, capitalizing on an Oakland error on a sacrifice fly by Abby Klaft to take a 2-0 lead. 

The Golden Grizzlies answered in the third when Brooklyn Plitz delivered an RBI single, plating Alyssa Balcom to cut the deficit in half.

Oakland evened the score at 2-2 in the fourth, as Kenna Bommarito slapped a RBI single up the middle of the diamond.

The Grizzlies briefly pulled ahead in the top of the fifth after Madi Herrington plated a run on a RBI single, but the lead was short-lived. In the bottom half, Detroit Mercy responded with a pair of runs on back-to-back RBI singles from Klaft and Jada Davis that pushed the Titans back in front, 4-3.

Oakland threatened late, putting runners aboard in both the sixth and seventh innings, but Detroit Mercy reliever Erin Flynn shut the door with two scoreless frames to earn the save.

Troyer led the offensive charge with two hits, a double and two stolen bases. Balcom also doubled and scored a run, while Taylor Carraway and Herrington each notched extra-base hits.

The teams close out their rivalry series with a doubleheader tomorrow, Apr. 9, beginning at noon.