ROCHESTER, Mich. - The Golden Grizzlies baseball team looks to build off its recent win and grab its first Horizon League win as it heads to Youngstown for a weekend series against Youngstown State.
 
The weekend series was originally scheduled to be played at the Oakland Baseball Field, but due to the weather forecast, the game will be played at Youngstown. The series at Youngstown State scheduled for later this season (April 26-28) will now be played at the Oakland Baseball Field. Although on the road, Oakland will still be the home team.
 
The Golden Grizzlies (7-13, 0-3 HL) got back on track as it beat the Chippewas, 11-8, after it dropped its weekend series against the Norse in its Horizon League opener.
 
Oakland fell, 18-8, followed by a tight 6-2 loss the day after, as it nearly grabbed its first league win during its series endcap March 17. The Golden Grizzlies held a two-run lead with three outs remaining, but the Norse grabbed a pair in the bottom of the inning to force extras. Oakland had a chance to put the game away, up one in the bottom of the 11th, but Northern Kentucky grabbed a run and ended it in the 12th.
 
The Golden Grizzlies got back on track Tuesday (March 19) as it traveled in-state to Central Michigan and got the win, 11-8. Oakland was led in RBI by Carter Hain and Gavin Arseneau who picked 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. Oakland used a strong six-run seventh inning to lead its way to victory.
 
Hain leads the Golden Grizzlies with a .550 batting average in 10 games played, as Brandon Nigh paces the team in RBI with 18. Right behind him is Lucas Day with 17 who leads the team with five home runs, as he, Brandon Heidal and Aidan Orr lead the team with six doubles each.
 
On the bump, Tanner Ware leads the pitching squad with 4.79 ERA in 20.2 innings pitched, as Brandon Decker leads the Golden Grizzlies with 20 strikeouts. Sean Fekete leads the core with six games started and is one of seven Golden Grizzlies to pick up a win.
 
The Golden Grizzlies have gotten outhit this season, 236-215, as it holds a batting average of .302. The team has allowed 32 home runs on the season and has hit 20 itself while knocking down 41 doubles and 13 triples.
 
SCOUTING THE PENGUINS
The Youngstown State Penguins (2-17, 1-2 HL) enter Friday's game on a two-game losing streak after it went on a two-game win streak, its only two wins on the season. The team started out the season with 15-straight losses, with its worst loss against Kent State as it fell, 27-0. The teams pair of wins came against Pitt and Purdue Fort Wayne, as it bested Pitt on the road, 7-6, and followed it up with a Horizon League home opener win against Purdue Fort Wayne, 4-2.
 
The teams are nearly even when it meets each other as Oakland holds a 25-23 record against the Penguins. The Golden Grizzlies currently hold a five-game win streak and have won seven of the last eight, dating back to 2022. On its home field, Oakland holds a 12-6 record and has only lost one game on its home field dating back to 2018. Oakland scores, on average, 6.5 runs when it faces the Penguins.
 
The Penguins get outhit, 241-139, as it has given up 33 home runs while only hitting eight. The team holds a batting average of .235 and allows an opponent batting average of .369. On the mound, the Penguins have struck out 109 batters with 13.72 ERA while its opponents ERA is 3.62.
 
Trey Law leads the Penguins with a .329 batting average as he paces the team with 23 hits. Only three penguins have played and started in all 19 games as Law leads all three, while Ian Francis leads the team in RBI with 14. Both Derrick Tarpley Jr. and Teddy Ruffner had hit a pair of home runs for a team-high, as Alejandro Covas leads on the pads with eight steals.
 
First pitch from Eastwood Field is slated for 5:00 p.m. ET Friday, March 22, followed by a doubleheader starting at 1:00 p.m. ET Sunday, March 24.