FORT WAYNE, Ind. - The Golden Grizzlies came out on top against the Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons, 9-7, this afternoon on Mastodon Field to head into the conference tournament on a high note.
 
With its 31st win on the year, the Golden Grizzlies match the 2022 team for most wins by the team in a season at the Division I level.
 
The Golden Grizzlies (31-25, 18-12 HL) saw both Reggie Bussey and John Lauinger record a trio of hits as Lauinger held the team-lead in RBI with three. Brandon Decker led the way for the pitching core as he struck out six batters in two innings pitched.
 
The Mastodons (18-35, 11-19 HL) were led by Ben Higgins who was the only player on his team to record two hits as Luke Miles led the team with a pair of RBI.
 
The Golden Grizzlies got on the board early as Reggie Bussey made his way to second off a single and a wild pitch, as Ian Cleary brought him home off a full-count single. Brandon Nigh was walked previous to Cleary's hit as each runner moved up a base off a failed pickoff. Brandon Heidel battled a full count and was walked as the bases were juiced as John Lauinger delivered with a two-run single to put Oakland up, 3-0.
 
The Mastodons answered, however, as it scored four runs for the lead in the second off a single, wild pitch and balk. The Golden Grizzlies, once again, loaded up the bases with just one out in the third as Ben Clark found his pitch and sent Heidal, who got on base from a hit pitch, across the plate. The Mastodons kept the game at bay though and forced the final two outs as its bats followed with a solo home run to take a one-run lead.
 
Purdue Fort Wayne tacked on one more in the fourth before the Golden Grizzlies could answer as it did so in the sixth with a trio of runs. Nigh got things started as his hit tattered along the left field line for a double as Sam Griffith found home. Nigh's hit was followed up by a groundout to send Bussey home and move Nigh to third, as he was driven in by a Heidal single.
 
Another solo home run from the Mastodons tied the game up at seven in the seventh, but the Golden Grizzlies rallied and retook its lead in the eighth. Trent Rice came in the game for Cleary who was hit by a pitch as he went from first to third off a wild pitch and a groundout. Lauinger tallied his third RBI of the afternoon after a double sent Rice home, as Oakland's defense took care of business in the bottom of the frame to take a one-run lead heading into the ninth.
 
Brody Krzysiak finished off the game and earned his second save of the season as he struck out his final batter with two runners in scoring position as the Golden Grizzlies came out on top, 9-7.
 
The Golden Grizzlies outhit the Mastodons, 14-7, as each team committed an error on the day. Both teams matched each other with a trio of extra base hits as The Golden Grizzlies struck out 14 compared to the Mastodons seven. Twelve runs were left stranded on the base pads for the Golden Grizzlies as eight were left on for the Mastodons. Four of Oakland's six pitchers struck out at least one batter as four batters had multi-hit games.
 
The Golden Grizzlies return to the diamond for the #HLBASE Championship Wednesday (May 22), hosted by Wright State, as it'll face Youngstown State at 3:00 p.m. ET. For more information on the #HLBASE Tournament, click here.