FORT WAYNE, Ind. -  Tyler Trovinger went 3-for-5 hitting his team-best third home run of the season with five RBI and a run while Michael Stygles hit 2-for-4 with three RBI to lead Oakland to a series-opening 9-3 win at Purdue Fort Wayne on Friday. Brenton Phillips put together a standout performance at the dish as well, going 2-for-2 with a double, three walks and an RBI.

On the mound, Brandon Deans was dealing once again for Oakland (8-8, 2-3 HL) punching out 12 hitters giving up only three unearned runs on three hits, with three walks in 7.0 innings of work. Jacob Schellpfeffer also made an impact on the mound throwing two scoreless innings while allowing one hit, with no walks and one strikeout.

The Golden Grizzlies got on the board immediately with three runs in the first inning off a pair of bases-loaded walks by Phillips and Stygles along with fielder's choice by Trovinger.

The Golden Grizzlies then held Purdue Fort Wayne (4-8, 1-4 HL) scoreless before getting back on the board the very next inning off an RBI single from Trovinger, which brought the Golden Grizzlies lead to 4-0.

Oakland extended the lead to 5-0 in the fourth inning off an RBI single from Stygles.

The Golden Grizzlies added another pair of runs in the seventh with RBI singles from Trovinger and Stygles bringing the score to 7-0.

Purdue Fort Wayne got within 7-3 in the seventh inning until the Golden Grizzlies scored again in the eighth stretching the lead to 9-3 off Trovinger's two-run homer.

The score remained 9-3 for the rest of the game, as the Golden Grizzlies coasted to the win.

Both teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday, March 20 beginning at noon with game two starting approximately at 3 p.m.

Game Notes:
» Trovinger led the Golden Grizzlies at the plate, going 3-for-5 with a home run and five RBIs.
» Deans struck out 12 Mastodons hitters.
» Trovinger drove in five runs for Oakland.
» The Oakland pitching staff combined to strike out 13 Purdue Fort Wayne hitters.
» Oakland's highest-scoring inning was the first, when it pushed three runs across.
» Oakland took a 3-0 lead in the top half of the first and didn't surrender that lead for the remainder of the game.
» The Golden Grizzlies out-hit the Mastodons at an 8-4 clip.
» Oakland pitchers limited Purdue Fort Wayne to just 1-for-6 (.167) with runners in scoring position.
» Oakland pitchers faced 35 Purdue Fort Wayne hitters in the game, allowing seven ground balls and six fly balls while striking out 13.
» The Golden Grizzlies drew 10 walks from Purdue Fort Wayne pitching.
» Purdue Fort Wayne was led offensively by senior Jack Lang, who went 2-for-4.
» Junior Cade Willard led the Mastodons pitching staff, throwing one shutout inning.





###