ROCHESTER, Mich. - The Golden Grizzlies baseball team continues on its lengthy road trip for four games across four days, with a trio against McNeese State, and a weekday game against Lamar University.
The team heads to Louisiana to face McNeese State tomorrow to Sunday (Feb. 21-23), with Friday's first pitch at 4:00 p.m. ET and Saturday and Sunday at 2:00 p.m. ET. Friday and Sunday's game will be streamed live on ESPN+. The team then heads to Beaumont, Texas, to face Lamar University Monday (Feb. 24) for a single game, set for 3:00 p.m. ET, live on ESPN+.
The team opened up its season at Jacksonville State University where it ended the four-game series 1-3.
Game 1 (Friday, Feb. 14): Jacksonville State 9, Oakland 5
Oakland struggled early, falling behind 5-0 by the second inning due to errors and timely hitting from Jacksonville State. Despite a late rally with two runs in the ninth, Oakland's comeback fell short.
Game 2 (Friday, Feb. 14): Oakland 11, Jacksonville State 4
The Golden Grizzlies bounced back in the second game of the doubleheader, fueled by
Lucas Day's homer and a five-run seventh inning. Oakland's bullpen held strong to secure their first win of the season.
Game 3 (Saturday, Feb. 15): Jacksonville State 12, Oakland 0
Oakland's offense faltered in a one-sided loss. After an early leadoff double, the team struggled at the plate, while Jacksonville State's bats came alive with big innings in the fourth and sixth.
Game 4 (Sunday, Feb. 16): Jacksonville State 6, Oakland 0
In a tightly contested pitcher's duel through four innings, Oakland's missed scoring opportunities proved costly. Jacksonville State capitalized on errors and added late insurance runs to close the series.
Matthew McGann and
Trent Rice lead the team with five hits each, as Rice added a double and triple to his name against Jacksonville State.
Lucas Day has the sole home run for the Golden Grizzlies on the season as
Aidan Orr leads the team with three RBI. On the mound, freshman
Grant Garman leads the starting core with a 1-0 record, pitching 5.0 innings and allowing just one earned run.
SCOUTING THE COWBOYS
The Cowboys (2-1, 0-0 SLC) opened up its season at home against Wichita State for a three-game series and came away on top in its first two games. The team outscored the Shockers, 20-13, as it was set to play Texas A&M, the number one ranked team in the country, but was ultimately canceled.
Conner Westenburg leads the team with six hits, good for a team-high four RBI, with a triple and a home run. As a team, the Cowboys hit at a .293 mark with a trio of home runs, three triples and seven doubles. The Cowboys have drawn 12 walks on the season and have been struck out 24 times.
Alexis Gravel leads the pitching core as he allowed no earned runs in his start, pitching 4.0 innings and allowing five hits with one walk and three strikeouts. As a whole, the team has let up 24 hits off four doubles, two triples and one home run.
SCOUTING THE CARDINALS
The Cardinals (3-1, 0-0 SLC) enter the week 3-1 after it opened up its season 2-1 against CSU Bakersfield followed by a win vs. North Dakota State in its first game of a two game series. During its season-opening weekend, the Cardinals outscored the Roadrunners, 31-12, and capped off the series with a mercy rule 13-3 win in eight innings. The team followed it up with a 10-3 win against North Dakota State.
Tab Tracy leads the team with eight hits on 12 at-bats, good for an average of .667, with one double and four RBI. Damian Ruiz leads the team with six RBI as he has a home run and double on the season, as he's second on the team with seven hits. As a whole, the Cardinals hit at a .310 mark with 45 hits off three doubles and a trio of RBI, drawing 38 walks and striking out 18 times.
Of the rotation, Carter Sutton leads the team as he allowed no earned runs in 5.0 innings pitched, allowing just one hit and striking out five. The team has 35 strikeouts in total as it has allowed 26 hits and 15 runs.
