MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Michael Stygles went 2-for-4 with two RBI while Griffin Green hit 1-for-4 with three RBI accounting for all of Oakland's five RBI as the Golden Grizzlies came up short, 9-5, in the series opener at Alabama State on Friday night at the Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex. Tyler Trovinger also went 3-for-5 while Cam Post, Michael Chialdikas and Drew Demumbrum each posted one of Oakland's nine hits.

One the mound, Stygles also pulled double duty as he came in and tossed 3.0 innings with four strikeouts in relief picking up the loss. Nino Puckett went 4.0 innings with eight strikeouts  in the no decision effort.

After falling behind 3-0 in the first inning, Styles got Oakland (2-2) on the board with a RBI single to score Mario Camilletti in the fourth inning. The Golden Grizzlies then took the lead posting three runs in the top of the sixth as Stygles added his second RBI single followed by a two-run single by Green that moved Oakland ahead 4-3.

Alabama State (4-1) added another three-spot in the seventh inning to move ahead 6-4. Green grounded out to score Stygles pulling the Golden Grizzlies within a run at 6-5. However, that would be as close as Oakland would get as the Hornets posted another three runs in the eighth inning to seal the game.

Both teams will play the second game of the series on Saturday, Feb. 22 at 7 p.m. ET.



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