Oakland Takes 2015 #HLSB Championship

No. 1 Oakland 7, No. 3 Wright State 3

No. 1 Oakland claimed the 2015 Horizon League Softball Championship and an automatic qualifiying bid into the NCAA tournament with a 7-3 win over No. 3 Wright State. This marks the first tournament championship for the Golden Grizzlies since entering the conference in 2013.
Wright State held an early 2-0 lead, only to see Oakland score seven of the game's last eight runs to capture the victory.

The Raiders scored a run in the first as Jess Gorman singled to center and Hanna Floyd followed with a triple to right center.  The Raiders then made it 2-0 in the third as Alexis Mayle singled down the left field line, with pinch-runner Ashton Salyers advancing to second on a Honnah Susor grounder and scoring on Gorman's hit to left.

Oakland would get on the board in the fourth as Laura Pond drew a walk followed by a double from Lyndsay Hill. Marina Salinas then dropped in a bloop single to score pinch runner Rae Beadlescomb giving Oakland a 3-2 lead.

In the bottom of the fifth, Pond delivered a single to score Sara Cupp increasing the lead to 4-2 for the Golden Grizzlies.

Wright State cut the lead to 4-3 off a RBI single in the sixth. With a runner on third and two outs, Libby Pfeffer hit a shot down the left field line where Courtnee Johnson made a diving catch to save a run and get Oakland out of the inning with a one run lead.

In the sixth inning, Cupp's three-run shot broke open the game giving the Golden Grizzlies a 7-3 lead that would prove to be enough for the championship title.

Oakland awaits the NCAA Selection show at 10:00 p.m. ET to see where they will head for Regionals competition.

All-Tournament Team:

1. Cynthia Woodard, Cleveland State
2. Katelyn Huemmer, Green Bay
3. Taylor Nadler, Valparaiso
4. Erica Hampton, UIC
5. Elaine Heflin, UIC
6. Ashley Sharp, Wright State
7. Jess Gorman, Wright State
8. Honnah Susor, Wright State
9. Sara Cupp, Oakland (Tournament MVP)
10. Erin Kownacki, Oakland
11. Jackie Kisman, Oakland
12. Sarah Hartley, Oakland