OXFORD, Ohio - A late rally wasn't enough for the Golden Grizzlies as it fell to the Redhawks in game two of its weekend series, 8-6, at McKie Field at Hayden Park.
 
The Golden Grizzlies (3-6, 0-0 HL) were led by Ian Cleary who knocked in a pair of runs and led the team with three hits. Brandon Heidal made his way from home to third on his first triple of the year, as a trio of Golden Grizzlies recorded a pair of hits.
 
The Redhawks (4-5, 0-0 MAC) saw David Novak lead the team with three RBI off two hits and a home run as five Redhawks recorded at least a hit, with three players tallying two or more RBI.
 
Oakland grabbed the first hit of the game, but Miami kept it rolling from the game before and tallied a pair to start off the bottom of the frame. The first inning was replicated in the second as Oakland had one hit, but a two-run home run from Miami gave it a quick lead.
 
The Golden Grizzlies didn't count itself out, however, as two walks, sandwiched by a Reggie Bussey single, loaded the bases. John Lauinger was up for the task as he hit a hard ball towards shortstop to bring home Sam Griffith for the Golden Grizzlies first run of the game. The Golden Grizzlies hit into a double play the following at bat, but still kept its momentum as it sacrificed two outs for a run.
 
The sacrifice was worth it as Trent Rice hurried over to third, followed by a Cleary single deep into left to bring him home. Heidal cleared the sole runner on base as he drilled a triple towards the left field gap as the 4-0 game quickly became 4-4 in the third.
 
The defense from both sides came up as neither team tallied a hit until Oakland grabbed one in the fifth, but the runner was left stranded. The Redhawks exploded for three runs in the fifth though, as it tallied another two-run home run to take a 7-4 lead. Another run by Miami in the seventh gave Oakland six more outs to make up four runs.
 
Oakland attempted to answer the bell as Jack Lux waited out a full count and drew a walk with the bases loaded, but Miami got out of the bases loaded jam with only one run scored against it. Oakland gave it one final effort to knot things up in the ninth as Cleary knocked in his second RBI as Bussey raced home, but the Redhawks forced the final outs to take the game, 8-6.
 
Although the Golden Grizzlies outhit the Redhawks, 12-9, and didn't commit an error, Miami forced nine Golden Grizzlies runs to be stranded. Oakland nearly bested Miami in every statistical category, as the Golden Grizzlies struck out four more batters, drew five more walks, and stole a pair of bases, the difference maker was the Redhawks two home runs.
 
The Golden Grizzlies close out its series against Miami and look to take home a win tomorrow with first pitch set for 1:00 p.m. ET.