Rochester, Mich. – Their second consecutive Mid-American Conference (MAC) opponent, Oakland will host the Northern Illinois Huskies for a three-game set on Friday and Saturday, April 15 and 16.
Friday will be a traditional doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. and Saturday's contest is slated for 2 p.m.
The Golden Grizzlies will enter play at 15-16 (7-5 Horizon League), while Northern Illinois is 6-25 (6-12 MAC).
All-time series against the Huskies
This will be the first time Oakland has ever squared off with Northern Illinois, which is located in DeKalb.
Probable starting pitchers
Friday (Game 1)
Oakland: Redshirt junior right-hander
Brett Hagen: 3-1, 4.35 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, .234 OBA, 41.1 IP, 11 BB, 23 SO
Northern Illinois: Senior left-hander Kyle Seebach: 1-5, 6.41 ERA, .271 OBA, 46.1 IP, 26 BB, 33 SO
Friday (Game 2)
Oakland: Junior left-hander
Travis Densmore: 2-1, 6.59 ERA, 1.87 WHIP, .363 OBA, 27.1 IP, 10 BB, 24 SO
Northern Illinois: Junior left-hander Reagan Klawiter: 1-4, 6.33 ERA, .280 OBA, 42.2 IP, 21 BB, 28 SO
Saturday
Oakland: Graduate student right-hander
Quinton Kujawa: 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.54 WHIP, .125 OBA, 9.1 IP, BB, 4 SO
Northern Illinois: TBD
About the Huskies
On a five-game losing streak and just 3-20 away from home this season, Northern Illinois is tied with the Bowling Green Falcons for 10
th in the MAC standings.
The lone Husky hitting above .300, junior Dominican designated hitter Carlos Aranda is slashing .308/.432/.500 with three doubles, four home runs, 8 RBI, and four stolen bases in six attempts.
There is a location connection with Northern Illinois, too, as their shortstop and No. 2 hitter, sophomore Andre Demetral, attended Stoney Creek High School.
When it comes to relief pitching, junior right-hander Drew Hasson, redshirt freshman righty Matt Salomonson, and freshman Mason Ruh, another right-hander, have been head coach Mike Kunigonis' top options, combining to make 20 appearances.
Hasson has a 2.57 ERA over seven innings, Salomonson's is an even 3.00 over 15 frames, and Ruh is at 4.05 in 13.1 innings.
Goulet's hit streak in double digits
Leading the Golden Grizzlies in hits (41), doubles (7), and runs (27), graduate student second baseman
Brad Goulet will take a 10-game hit streak into play on Friday.
The only player to start all 31 games in 2022, Goulet hit a three-run home run, his fourth of the season, in Oakland's loss to Central Michigan on Tuesday, April 12.
