GAME 1: Oakland 4, Purdue Fort Wayne 2
Oakland jumped out to a 4-0 lead in game one before the Mastodons first scored in the fifth inning, but the ‘Dons had a potential tying run on deck or better in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings.
The Golden Grizzlies scored one in each of the first, second, fourth and fifth. The Mastodons got their first in the fifth Gwen McMenemy and Grace Hollopeter got on with a pair of singles, then Aglaia Rudd he drew a walk to load the bases. Wintlend drew a walk in the next plate appearance to score McMenemy. Tori Countryman pinch hit and brought home Hollopeter.
McMenemy and Hollopeter both singled out again in the sixth, but were left on first and second. Hollopeter finished 3-for-4 and McMenemy went 2-for-3.
Alanah Jones was credited with the loss. Gracie Brinkerhoff was very effective in 2.1 innings of relief, striking out two and allowing just one hit without a run. Alyssa Balcom got her fourth win of the year for Oakland while Mary Newton got her second save.
GAME 2: Oakland 5, Purdue Fort Wayne 4
The Mastodons had the bases loaded with one out at the bottom of the seventh inning, but the Golden Grizzlies slammed the door shut on the come-from-behind victory.
The Golden Grizzlies took the lead in the opening frame with a two-run homer from Jen Krizka. Hang cut the lead in half with a ground-out RBI at the bottom of the first to score Hollopeter.
Oakland got two more before the ‘Dons scored again thanks to a single in the third with two runners in scoring position. Hollopeter knocked in Brooke Lickey in the fourth inning. Lickey singled on the first ball she saw and was brought around with a walk from her sister, Brayden, and a sacrifice bunt from McMenemy.
Two innings later, Oakland tallied its last run of the contest with a double to left center. At the bottom of the sixth, Brooke Lickey, McMenemy and Hollopeter both recorded doubles to score two runs and get it within one. Hollopeter got left on second and three got left on in the seventh for the ‘Dons to come up just short.
Brinkerhoff went all seven innings and struck out three. 2023 Horizon League Pitcher of the Year Sydney Campbell recorded just one strikeout in the complete game victory.
Purdue Fort Wayne falls to 14-33 and 9-15 in the Horizon League as the season comes to close. Oakland improves to 25-17 and 17-6 to claim the No. 2 seed in the upcoming Horizon League Championship.
~Feel the Rumble~
