Youngstown, Ohio – Senior Elyssa Imler hit a walk-off single in the bottom of the seventh inning to lead the Youngstown State softball team (12-38, 4-16 Horizon League) to a 6-5 victory over Oakland (16-26, 7-12) in game one of a doubleheader split on Saturday afternoon.

The Penguins dropped the nightcap, 10-0.

Freshman Ayla Ray doubled to lead off the bottom half of the seventh and advanced to third on Macy Littler's sacrifice bunt. Imler fouled off six pitches in an eight-pitch at-bat and laced a line drive to right field that plated Ray with the game-winning run.

Oakland got on the board first with a two-out solo home run in the top of the first inning. The Penguins tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the third on Imler's run-scoring single that plated Cassandra Carlson.

The Golden Grizzlies responded with three runs in the top of the fifth to regain the lead, 4-1.

Youngstown State would not be outdone tying the game for the second time with three runs of its own in the bottom half of the frame. Carlson led off the inning with a double to right-center and Lydia Wilkerson's single put runners on the corners. After Ayla Ray's sacrifice fly scored Carlson, Littler delivered a double to right-center and advanced Wilkerson to third.

Imler's ground out scored Wilkerson and Littler scored on a wild pitch to tie the game at 4-4.

Oakland retook the lead for the third time with a run in the top of the sixth, but the Penguins knotted the game at 5-5 in the bottom half. Kennedy Dean doubled to deep center field to lead off the inning, and she advanced to third on Bree Kohler's sacrifice bunt.

Carlson delivered the biggest hit of her career, a single to centerfield, to score Dean with the game-tying run.

Imler went 2-for-4 with three RBIs and Carlson was 2-for-2 with two runs scored. Littler and Dean each went 2-for-3 to lead the Penguins offensively.

Kelsey Ogin struck out seven to pick up her fifth win of the season.

Youngstown State and Oakland conclude the series on Sunday, April 27. First pitch is set for 12 p.m. at the Covelli Sports Complex.