ROCHESTER, Mich. - John Lauinger hit a walk-off sacrifice fly in extras as the Golden Grizzlies defeated the Northern Kentucky Norse, 10-9, in 10 innings this afternoon on the Oakland Baseball Field.
 
The Golden Grizzlies (21-18, 11-7 HL) were led by Brandon Heidal who tallied a trio of RBI as Brandon Nigh led with a trio of hits. Carter Hain was right behind with a pair of hits as Brandon Decker led the team with four strikeouts.
 
The Norse (24-15, 12-6 HL) were led by Logen Devenport who batted in three runs and led the game with four hits.
 
Both teams were at a stalemate for the first two and a half innings before the Golden Grizzlies took a one-run lead in the third. Sam Griffith and Reggie Bussey were walked as Griffith worked through a full count to get on base. Both players moved up a bag off a double steal, as a John Lauinger sacrifice fly brought in the first run of the game.
 
The Norse, however, took the lead the following inning and went up, 2-1, off back-to-back singles. The Golden Grizzlies got out of a bases loaded jam though, as Brandon Decker worked out of a 3-0 count and struck out the batter swinging to get out of the inning. The game teetered back-and-forth as Oakland knotted things up at two in the fifth as it scored off its second sacrifice fly of the game.
 
The Norse put itself back ahead by a run, but the Golden Grizzlies quickly answered. Lucas Day waited out a full count and was walked which brought Carter Hain to the dish as he blasted one out of the park to put the team up, 4-3. The theme of the game kept up as the Norse grabbed the largest lead thus far in the seventh, as four runs crossed the plate to make it 7-4.
 
Oakland didn't count itself out though and answered in a big way in the bottom of the seventh. Gavin Arseneau walked off a 3-2 count and was brought in by Aidan Orr off a double. Brandon Nigh matched with a double of his own to bring Liam Pollock, pinch runner for Orr, home for the second run of the inning. Day was intentionally walked as Oakland had two on with two out, as Brandon Heidal came up to the dish and blasted one past the outfield fence for a three-run homer and the lead, 9-7.
 
Northern Kentucky grabbed one in the eighth, but Oakland got out of a bases-loaded jam as it didn't surrender the lead and kept a one-run lead. The Norse knotted things up though in the ninth off a home run as Oakland was due up, tied 9-9, in the bottom of the ninth. Nigh led off with a single and stole second but was left stranded as the game headed to extras.
 
Oakland once again got out of the inning with three Norse stranded, as Trent Rice led off with a double in the 10th. He eventually found his way to third after he beat the throw for a steal, as Lauinger drove him in for a walk-off sacrifice fly to take the win, 10-9, and take the weekend series.
 
The Norse outhit the Golden Grizzlies, 15-9, as Oakland committed two errors to Northern Kentucky's one. The Norse left 20 runners stranded as the Golden Grizzlies left eight, as six batters for Oakland recorded at least a hit.
 
The Golden Grizzlies cap off its eight-game home slate as Eastern Michigan visits the Oakland Baseball Field Tuesday (April 23), with first pitch set for 3:30 p.m. ET.