Rochester, Mich. – Riding a four-game win streak and coming off an extremely impressive victory over the Michigan Wolverines on March 30, Oakland will return to Horizon League action by beginning a three-game home set with Youngstown State on Friday, April 1 at 2:30 p.m.
The Saturday, April 2 game is scheduled for 2 p.m., with the series finale on Sunday, April 3 at 1 p.m.
All-time record against Youngstown State
First playing back on April 1, 2000, the Golden Grizzlies and Penguins have met a total of 35 times, with Youngstown State holding a narrow 19-16 edge in the series.
Since the two programs began competing as conference foes in the 2014 season, the Penguins have won 17 of the 29 meetings.
Golden Grizzlies piling up runs
During their current four-game win streak, Oakland has scored a total of 47 runs – good for 11.75 per game – and has reached double-digits in each contest.
The Golden Grizzlies scored at least 10 runs five times in their first 19 games, meaning the lineup is currently in its most productive stretch of the season.
About Youngstown State
Dropping a tilt with the Michigan State Spartans in East Lansing on March 30, the Penguins will enter play at 9-15 (2-1 Horizon League).
Youngstown State's lone conference action was a series with Purdue Fort Wayne from March 18-20, a team Oakland also took two of three against.
To the Penguins' credit, head coach Dan Bertolini's program has played a tough schedule, as their last five games have come against the Penn State Nittany Lions, West Virginia Mountaineers, and aforementioned Spartans.
Hitting just .216 as a team this season, Youngstown State has one player above the .300 mark – junior second baseman Braeden O'Shaughnessy, who has started all 24 games and has 30 hits in 89 at-bats (.337).
Left-handed-hitting sophomore shortstop Seth Lucero, the Penguins' leadoff man, owns a .269 batting average (21-78) and is second on the team with three stolen bases in four attempts.
Junior right-hander Matt Brosky has been the team's best pitcher, compiling a 2-3 record, 1.86 ERA, eight walks, and 44 strikeouts in 38.2 innings over six starts, one of which was a complete game.
Redshirt senior Jon Synder, a fellow righty, has been very good in his own right, posting a 3.69 ERA, 16 walks, and 40 punchouts over 31.2 frames in his six starts, but has just a 1-3 record to show for it.
Out of the bullpen, redshirt junior right-hander Alex Cardona, junior righty Casey Marshalwitz, and redshirt sophomore lefty Kenny Misik have established themselves as Bertolini's go-to options, combining to make 32 appearances.
Probable Oakland starting pitchers
Friday – Redshirt junior right-hander
Brett Hagen: 2-1, 4.06 ERA, 31 IP, 8 BB, 13 SO
Saturday – Redshirt senior right-hander
Jacob Wosinski: 2-2, 3.49 ERA, 28.1 IP, 12 BB, 31 SO
Sunday – Junior left-hander
Travis Densmore: 1-0, 7.94 ERA, 17 IP, 6 BB, 16 SO
