FORT WAYNE, Ind. - Brandon Heidal batted in a handful of runs and Brandon Decker set the all-time record for most innings pitched in a season and now sits at 100.0 IP as the Golden Grizzlies defeated the Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons, 10-9, this afternoon on Mastodon Field.
 
The Golden Grizzlies (30-24, 17-11 HL) were led by Heidal with his five RBI and led the team with a trio of hits, as Brandon Nigh was right behind with a pair, with Decker leading the pitching core with eight strikeouts.
 
The Mastodons (17-34, 10-18 HL) saw Nick Sutherlin lead the team with a trio of hits as Jackson Micheels and Cade Fitzpatrick tied for the team lead with two RBI.
 
The Golden Grizzlies started out strong as Reggie Bussey continued his on-base streak followed by a Brandon Nigh single towards shallow right field. Both runners placed themselves in scoring position as Brandon Heidal's bat stayed hot and batted both in for a pair. After a Lucas Day double put runners on second and third once again, John Lauinger answered and matched Heidal's two-run single with one of his own as he battled through 10 pitches to bump the lead, quickly, to 4-0.
 
The Mastodons answered in the second with a run, but Carter Hain matched it the following at-bat in the third as a single dribbled towards center to bring Day, who fought through a full count and was walked, across the plate. The Golden Grizzlies were in a jam in the bottom of the third as the Mastodons loaded the bases with no outs. Oakland got out of the inning nearly unscathed as only one run crossed off a wild pitch, but a force out at home, a popup and Brandon Decker's sixth strikeout of the game ended the frame.
 
The Mastodons three-run deficit was short lived as Sam Griffith and Bussey found the base pads, while Heidal recorded his third, fourth and fifth run of the evening after he blasted a three-run shot towards the left field gap to make it 8-2. The Mastodons tacked on one more before the fourth inning concluded, but the Golden Grizzlies stayed in control, 8-3.
 
The game was held at 8-3 until the seventh as Lauinger found his way around the bags after Trent Rice drove him in. Rice used his speed to steal his 40th base of the season and eventually crossed home for Oakland's 10th run of the ballgame. The Mastodons went on to tally two in the same inning as the Golden Grizzlies held a five-run lead heading into the eighth.
 
The Mastodons cut it close as it made it a two-run game with just one out with the bases loaded, but a sacrifice fly turned into a double play to end the game as the Golden Grizzlies survived, 10-9.
 
The Golden Grizzlies outhit the Mastodons, 11-9, as each team committed an error on the day. The Golden Grizzlies left seven runners stranded while the Mastodons left 10, as Purdue Fort Wayne rattled off four extra-base hits compared to Oakland's two. The Golden Grizzlies pitching core accounted for 13 strikeouts, while the Mastodons totaled four.
 
The Golden Grizzlies return to the diamond for game two of its series against the Mastodons tomorrow (May 17), with first pitch set for 3:00 p.m. ET.