ROCHESTER, Mich. – Rallying back from a six-run deficit in the second inning and another four-run gap in the sixth, the Oakland Golden Grizzlies defeated the UIC Flames, 14-13, in a seven-inning contest on Sunday, May 15.

Sunday was originally scheduled as a doubleheader, but the second game was called after three innings due to darkness and officially declared a no-contest.

With the victory, Oakland improved to 27-24 (16-10 Horizon League) and jumped the Flames (21-22, 13-9) for second place in the conference standings.

Additionally, this 27^th win established a new program-record for regular season victories since beginning play at the NCAA Division I level in 1998, besting the 2000 team's mark of 26.

Winning two games in The Summit League Tournament, that 2000 squad holds the current school record for Division I wins in a season with 28, a figure the 2022 team could match as soon as Thursday, May 19 when they head to Highland Heights to battle the Northern Kentucky Norse.

Pregame Senior Day festivities
Prior to first pitch, Oakland held a ceremony individually recognizing their 10 graduating seniors.

Just as important, the festivities also honored the student-athletes' parents, men and women who have devoted their time and money to help their sons reach this point in life.

As talented and driven as these young men are, it is highly unlikely they would be in the position they are without the guidance and support of their parents.

Listed alphabetically, the Golden Grizzlies' 10 departing seniors are second baseman Brad Goulet, right-handed pitcher Quinton Kujawa, right fielder Brenton Phillips, left fielder Cam Post, left-handed pitchers Chas Sagedahl and Christian Stelling, designated hitter/left fielder Michael Stygles, center fielder Seth Tucker, right-handed pitcher Jacob Wosinski, and left-handed pitcher Aris Zimakas.

How it happened
Courtesy of a double by redshirt freshman first baseman Breck Nowik and a three-run home run off the bat of sophomore third baseman Rayth Petersen, UIC scored four times in the first.

The Golden Grizzlies first appeared on the scoreboard in their half of the first when Post was hit by a Sam Menegat pitch with the bases loaded.

Continuing their fast start, the Flames scored thrice more in the second to extend their lead to 7-1.

As they have time and time again this season, Oakland answered with a big inning of their own, scoring six times in their part of the second to tie the tilt, with Tucker hitting a three-run home run to left and Post following with a two-run double five batters later.

Nowik, who finished the game 4-for-5 with four RBI and a triple shy of the cycle, put UIC back on top, 8-7, with a home run in the fourth and sophomore second baseman Ryan Nagelbach came around on a wild pitch to make it 9-7 later in the frame.

Once again, the Golden Grizzlies immediately responded in the bottom of the inning, with Phillips scoring on a throwing error by sophomore catcher Cole Conn and redshirt junior shortstop Thomas Green plating Post with a single to tie the game at nine.

Continuing this see-saw affair, the Flames added a run in the fifth and three more in the sixth to hold a 13-9 advantage with Oakland down to their final six outs.

The biggest blast of what was a 3-for-3, three-run, six-RBI afternoon, Post brought Oakland within one, 13-12, with a three-run home run in the sixth and junior Ian Cleary, who was pinch-hitting for Tucker, ripped the first pitch he saw high off the wall in right center for a two-run double, giving the Golden Grizzlies a 14-13 lead that would hold up through the top of the seventh.

In addition to Post, Green (3-for-4), senior first baseman Gabe Lux (3-for-4), Phillips (3-for-5), senior third baseman Luke Malmanger (2-for-4), and Tucker (2-for-4) also collected multiple knocks as part of a 19-hit Oakland effort.

Handing the final six outs, Stelling earned his first win of the campaign, allowing one run on two hits with a pair of strikeouts.

Up next
With the home portion of their schedule now in the books, the Golden Grizzlies will round out their regular season with a three-game road series against Northern Kentucky beginning Thursday at 2 p.m.

The Friday and Saturday games are slated for 1 p.m. and 12 p.m., respectively.

These two programs will have only gone six days without seeing each other, as they split a doubleheader in Rochester on May 13.