Photo courtesy of Golden Grizzlies
The Oakland University softball team swept the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay (UWGB) Phoenix in a three-game series that started with a doubleheader on Saturday, April 13 and ended on Sunday, April 14, on the road.
With the series win over the Phoenix, the Golden Grizzlies have won every single series up to this point in the Horizon League, placing the team near the top of the Horizon League standings.
Additionally, this marks the Golden Grizzlies’ first series sweep this season and the first sweep OU has had against the Phoenix since the 2021 season.
Game 1: Oakland 9, Green Bay 1
In game one of the series, Brooklyn Plitz was an unstoppable force, tallying three hits on four at-bats and three RBIs. In the series’ first game, Plitz led the team in both hits and RBIs.
Sydney Campbell took the pitcher’s circle for the Golden Grizzlies and never left. Campbell struck out four batters and only allowed five hits through seven innings, marking her 12th win of the season.
The Golden Grizzlies wasted no time in the top of the first. Reese Ruhlman singled up the middle, sending Maci Brown home for OU’s first lead of the afternoon.
After rattling off a run, the Golden Grizzlies took complete control of the game and never looked back. In the second inning, OU notched three more runs following a homerun swing from Plitz, and in the third inning, a fielding error from the Phoenix put the Golden Grizzlies up 5-0.
Throughout the rest of the game, OU continued to expand their lead. During the fifth inning, Leah Bieniewicz brought Taylor Carraway home to bolster the OU lead to 6-0. In the seventh inning, Kamryn Troyer, Madi Herrington and Bieniewicz individually notched RBIs to give the Golden Grizzlies a comfortable 9-0 lead.
UWGB did score a run in the bottom of the seventh, but it was too little and too late, and the Golden Grizzlies snagged the first game of the series 9-1.
Game 2: Oakland 7, Green Bay 4
Three batters, Troyer, Herrington and Brown led the way for OU in the batter’s box, each tallying two hits. Troyer also led the Golden Grizzlies in RBIs in the second match with three.
Alyssa Balcom and Mary Newton handled business on the mound, with Balcom pitching five innings while allowing six hits and striking out two batters. Newton gave up three hits in two innings and struck out one batter.
Despite their setback in game one, UWGB struck first in game two. A single from Hailey Heckenlaible brought Bella Herman home, giving the Phoenix a 1-0 lead to end the first inning.
Although the Golden Grizzlies remained quiet in the first two innings when it was their turn to bat, OU more than made up for it in the third inning. Following a two-run home run from Brown, Ruhlman and Carraway made it to base safely, allowing Troyer to send both of them home, giving OU a 4-1 lead.
After the Golden Grizzlies jumped ahead, both teams remained scoreless through the fourth, fifth and sixth innings.
That’s until OU caught fire in the seventh inning. Jen Krizka brought Brown home on a single, and Troyer connected on a triple to bring home Allisa DiPrima, who pinch-ran for Krizka. Remarkably, Troyer scored off a passed ball to close out the inning, putting OU up 7-1.
Despite the six-point Golden Grizzly lead, the Phoenix responded in the bottom of the seventh inning, scoring three runs to bring themselves within striking distance of OU. However, the Golden Grizzlies prevailed, winning the game 7-4.
Game 3: Oakland 4, Green Bay 1
In the series finale, Troyer spearheaded the OU offense. Troyer led the team in hits and RBIs, recording two hits and two RBIs.
Campbell was the starting pitcher in game three and, like usual, never left the mound. Through seven innings, Campbell gave up just five hits on her way to striking out two batters for her 13th win this season.
UGWB scored first in the second inning, as the Phoenix pieced together three consecutive hits to send Aidyn Messmann home for an early 1-0 lead over the Golden Grizzlies.
In response, OU quickly countered UGWB in the following inning. After a Herrington double and a Jenna Johnston single, Plitz singled to shortstop. Herrington crossed home plate to tie the game 1-1.
With the game tied, the Golden Grizzlies took the lead from UGWB in the fourth inning. After Krizka and Ruhlman were both hit by a pitch, Carraway grounded out, allowing Krizka and Ruhlman to advance to third and second base, respectively.
On the next at-bat, Troyer found contact with the ball for a single. Although Troyer was eventually called out at second base, Krizka and Ruhlman made it home safely to give OU a 3-1 lead over the Phoenix.
The Golden Grizzlies further expanded their lead in the sixth inning. With DiPrima on first and Brown on third, Carraway grounded out to the third baseman, giving Brown time to make it home to bolster the OU lead to 4-1.
Although UGWB had ample opportunity to respond, Campbell wrapped things up for OU, allowing a sole hit in the game’s final two innings, making OU the winner of game three and the series over the Phoenix.
On deck, the Golden Grizzlies will host the Indiana University-Purdue University of Indianapolis Jaguars in a doubleheader on Wednesday, April 17. Given the Jaguars’ position near the middle of the standings, OU will have a chance to sweep another Horizon League opponent.
