MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - The Golden Grizzlies baseball team got the win in a close game against the Chippewas, 11-8, this afternoon at Keilitz Field at Theunissen Stadium.
The Golden Grizzlies (7-13, 0-3 HL) were lead in RBI by
Carter Hain and
Gavin Arseneau, picking up four each, both on two hits.
John Lauinger also tallied two RBI on two hits while
Lucas Day and
Reggie Bussey both picked up two hits on the night.
Jaxson Easterlin picked up the win for the Golden Grizzlies and struck out two.
The Chippewas (4-17, 1-5 MAC) were led by Spencer Verburg who tallied four RBI throughout the game and was followed by Bryson Webb, Mikey Murphy, Cole Prout, and Jake Brill, all who picked up one apiece. Verburg and Bryson Webb both tallied a home run for the team.
The Chippewas picked up two runs in the first inning to go up, 2-0, but the Golden Grizzlies answered in the second and picked up a run courtesy of a
Carter Hain RBI to bring
Lucas Day home. The defense from both sides was shown as each team was held scoreless until the sixth inning.
The Chippewas widen its lead as it scored two and held the Golden Grizzlies scoreless to make it 4-1, but Oakland would answer back in a big way in the seventh. Oakland grabbed six runs in the inning to go up, 7-4, as the inning was highlighted by Hain who smashes a bases clearing double which brought in a trio of runs. Lauinger and Arseneau also got in on the action as the Golden Grizzlies started to pull away.
The Chippewas would answer back, however, with two in the bottom of the seventh to make it a one-run game. The Golden Grizzlies always had the answer though as it picked up two runs, as Arseneau tallied two RBI with a single drilled into right field. The Golden Grizzlies kept the Chippewas scoreless in the eighth to give Central Michigan three more outs to make a comeback.
Sam Griffith and Lauinger picked up key insurance runs to grow the Oakland lead to five, at 11-6, as a two-run home run in the bottom of the inning brought the Chippewas within three. Oakland stopped the comeback in its tracks, however, and took the game, 11-8.
The Golden Grizzlies outhit the Chippewas, 15-11, as Oakland committed one more error than Central Michigan with two. Oakland tacked on eight extra-base hits as it led the day with six doubles, while the team also bested the Chippewas in triples with a pair. On the mound, the Chippewas struck out 12 batters while the Golden Grizzlies struck out 5, as each team stole a trio of bases.
The Golden Grizzlies baseball squad is back in action Friday (March 22) as it opens up Horizon League play at home as its set to host Youngstown State for a weekend series. First pitch for game one is set for 2:30 p.m. ET.
