ROCHESTER, Mich. - After going 3-1 on the weekend with a Horizon League Series win, the Golden Grizzlies head back on the road as it faces the Michigan State Spartans today (March 27), followed by a three-game series against the Wright State Raiders the following days (March 28-30).
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Golden Grizzlies took care of business against the Central Michigan Chippewas, 11-8, followed by a series win over Youngstown State as it fell in its first game but won the remaining two.
 
Gavin Arseneau and Carter Hain led the team against Central Michigan as they both batted in four runs as Oakland erupted for six runs in the seventh inning to get the win. Following its win, the Golden Grizzlies fell in a close tilt against the Penguins, 3-2, but proceeded to outscore Youngstown State, 27-4, in 14 innings as Oakland run ruled Youngstown State in the following two games. After the week concluded, junior John Lauinger earned #HLBASE Batter of the week after he hit at a .700 clip with seven hits in 10 at-bats and tallied a pair of doubles along with a triple.
 
SCOUTING THE SPARTANS
The Michigan State baseball team holds a 10-12 record this year and a 1-2 Big Ten record. Oakland is the second Horizon League team to play Michigan State this season as it beat Purdue Fort Wayne, 11-1, in eight innings. The Spartans are led by Jack Frank who has played and started in all 22 games this season and has a .355 batting average with a team-high 33 hits. Dillon Kark leads the team in RBI as he has knocked down nine doubles on the year with one triple and a pair of home runs. Nick Powers holds the team lead with 42.0 innings pitched with a 3-2 record, a 2.57 ERA and has allowed 39 hits on the year.
 
The Golden Grizzlies hold a 2-23 record when it faces the Spartans, dating back to 2000, as Oakland dropped its previous matchup last season, 8-3. Oakland averages 2.8 runs per game against Michigan State as only one of the 25 games were played in Rochester. Oakland last bested Michigan State during the 2016 season at McLane Baseball Stadium as it took down the Spartans, 3-1.
 
First pitch from McLane Stadium at Kobs Field is set for 4:05 p.m.
 
SCOUTING THE RAIDERS
Wright State holds a 13-11 record this season and is 4-2 in the Horizon League, with its two league losses coming from Milwaukee and Purdue Fort Wayne as the team will come off a loss to Xavier, 10-7, heading into the series. The Raiders are led by Jay Luikart who is the only Raider who has started and played in all 24 games this season and leads the team with 40 hits and a .370 batting average. He also holds the team-high in RBI with 34 as he's hit seven doubles and nine home runs. Jake Shirk leads on the bump and holds a 5.28 ERA in 29.0 innings pitched, having let up 35 hits on the year.
 
The Raiders get the best of the Golden Grizzlies as it holds a 51-11 record against Oakland which dates back to 2002. The Golden Grizzlies have only won two games in its last 11 meetings against the Raiders and enter the series on a two-game skid. On the road, the Golden Grizzlies hold a 7-32 record as it scores, on average 3.9 runs per game.
 
First pitch from Nischwitz Stadium for the series opener is set for 3:00 p.m. ET Thursday (March 28).