MORAGA, Calif. - Despite grabbing seven runs in the final two innings, the Golden Grizzlies comeback fell just short against the Gaels as it fell, 11-8, on the Louis Guisto Field.
 
The Golden Grizzlies (1-2, 0-0 HL) were led by Lucas Day who batted in a trio of batters in the loss as he added the sole home run for Oakland in the contest. Over a handful of Oakland players tallied a hit, as both Day and Sam Griffith tallied a pair each.
 
The Gaels (2-1, 0-0 WCC) got hits from eight players in its lineup as Jason Reitz got the win on the mound. The Gales also saw a trio of hitters tally three RBI in the teams second win.
 
Day led the weekend series for the Golden Grizzlies with seven RBI, as Reggie Bussey grabbed a team-high seven hits off his 12 at-bats, good for a .583 average.
 
Brandon Heidal laid down the first hit of the game, but the pitching and defensive effort from the Gaels showed as it held the Golden Grizzlies hitless the following three innings. In the span, the Gaels grew its lead to 6-0 as it converted in the third and grabbed a trio of runs.
 
It wasn't until the top of the fifth where the Golden Grizzlies bats started to get rolling as the bottom of the lineup was due to the plate. Erik Larsen stayed patient at the plate and drew a walk and was keen on the base pads and advanced to second off a wild pitch. Griffith put Larsen 90 feet from home as Bussey continued his stellar series as he sent Larsen across the plate with a RBI single.
 
The Gaels kept it coming though and increased its lead in the fifth after it sent one over the fence to bring in a pair. St. Mary's couldn't be contained as three more runners crossed the plate the following inning to make a Golden Grizzlies comeback a tall task, down 11-1.
 
It was a valiant effort for Oakland in the final pair of innings to try and strike a comeback as Trent Rice made his way from second to home after Day blasted a single through the gap and into left field. Gavin Arseneau was due up and matched Day from the dish, hitting a hard ball to the shortstop as Ian Cleary dashed home to close in on the deficit.  The two-out rally kept on going as Aidan Orr hit one through the left side to bring Day in for the team's third run in the inning.
 
The bats were hot and the Golden Grizzlies found its groove on the base pads as the Gaels third baseman mishandled the ball as Arseneau took advantage of the opportunity and sped home. Griffith capped off the rally with a RBI single straight into right field as the team cut its deficit down tremendously and were now only down, 11-6.
 
In one final effort, Cleary saw four-straight balls and took his base before he made his way in scoring position. Day continued to have a great week as he came up to the plate and blasted one out of the park to make it a three-run game with one out to spare. The Gaels were able to close, however, and took the final game of the series, 11-8.
 
Both teams totaled a trio of errors as the Gaels outhit the Golden Grizzlies, 15-8, as half of the Golden Grizzlies hits came in its five-run eighth inning.
 
The Golden Grizzlies return to the diamond next weekend for an away series at Eastern Kentucky, with first pitch set for 4:00 p.m. ET Friday (Feb. 23).