ROCHESTER, Mich. - The Golden Grizzlies baseball team looks to get back on track as it continues on the road, with a sole game against UTSA tomorrow, followed by a four-game series against New Mexico State.
The team stays put in Texas and faces the University of Texas at San Antonio tomorrow (Feb. 26), with first pitch set for 7:00 p.m. ET live on ESPN+. The team then heads to New Mexico to face the Aggies for four games (Feb. 28-March 3), with first pitch for game one slated for 8:00 p.m. ET.
The team looks to bounce back after it went 0-4 in its last four outings.
Game 1 (Friday, Feb. 21): McNeese State 1, Oakland 0
The Golden Grizzlies dropped a tightly contested series opener against McNeese State, falling 1-0 despite a stellar seven-inning, one-run performance from starter
Hunter Pidek. Oakland's offense struggled against McNeese's Aidan Gravel, who struck out 12 over six shutout innings, with their best chance to score thwarted by a double play in the seventh.
Game 2 (Saturday, Feb. 22): McNeese State 5, Oakland 4
Oakland took an early 3-0 lead in the third inning, highlighted by a sacrifice fly from
Brandon Nigh, but McNeese steadily chipped away, tying the game in the sixth and again in the seventh after Oakland briefly regained the lead. Despite strong bullpen efforts, the Golden Grizzlies fell 5-4 after a two-out walk-off home run in the ninth.
Game 3 (Sunday, Feb. 23): McNeese State 4, Oakland 3
Oakland and McNeese engaged in another tight contest, with
Brody Fahnestock delivering 5.1 strong innings before the Golden Grizzlies tied the game at 3-3 in the eighth behind a
Matthew McGann sacrifice fly and a
Trent Rice RBI single. However, McNeese loaded the bases in the ninth and secured a 4-3 walk-off win with a single.
Game 4 (Monday, Feb. 24): Lamar 15, Oakland 2
The Golden Grizzlies fell to Lamar University, 15-2, in the final game of a grueling four-day stretch, despite two hits from
John Lauinger and a solid 4.1-inning, six-strikeout effort by
Daniel Duley. Oakland chipped away early but couldn't overcome Lamar's explosive offense, which scored six runs in the first and added nine more in the later innings.
John Lauinger leads the Golden Grizzlies with eight hits, good for a .308 batting average, as both
Trent Rice and
Aidan Orr hold the team lead with four RBI.
Grant Garman leads the pitching rotation with 10 strikeouts in 10.2 innings pitched and has allowed only four earned runs. As a whole, the team had laid down 55 hits for a .212 batting average, with seven doubles, one triple and two home runs.
SCOUTING THE ROADRUNNERS
The Roadrunners (5-3, 0-0 AAC) opened up its season with a pair of losses, but have won five of its last six games. The team plays today against Houston Christian, but took care of business in its last series against Long Island University, with three of the four games ending in seven innings. Oakland is the first Horizon League team the Roadrunners will face this year, as it squares off against Youngstown State as well.
Mason Lytle leads the team with 15 hits and is tied for the team lead in RBI with nine, as Norris McClure leads the team in batting average with .560. Caden Miller leads the team in home runs with three, as the team has totaled six. As a whole, the team hits at a .338 clip with 90 hits, off 17 doubles, one triple and 46 RBI.
Conor Myles leads the pitching rotation with no earned runs allowed in 10.1 innings pitched and has given up just seven hits with 10 strikeouts. As a whole, the pitching core has struck out 59 batters with a .238 batting average, allowing 58 hits, 14 doubles and two home runs.
SCOUTING THE AGGIES
The Aggies (5-2, 0-0 CUSA) ride a three-game win streak as it faces New Mexico tonight. The Golden Grizzlies are the only Horizon League team the Aggies will face this season, as all seven games of its season so far have been on its home field. The two teams have met before, with its last meeting coming in 2022, as the Golden Grizzlies are 3-4 against the Aggies and look to end a four-game skid against the team.
Sheehan O'Connor leads the team with 14 hits and has knocked down the most RBI with 13, as he's accounted for six of the teams 12 home runs. He also leads the team with a .483 batting average as the team averages a .344 clip. With 84 hits, the team has hit 17 doubles, two triples and has batted in 56 runners.
Its pitching core is led by Jack Turner who holds a 1.64 ERA with a 2-0 record in 11.0 innings pitched. He's allowed nine hits and has struck out only two, as Ian Hoslett leads the team with nine strikeouts. As a team, the pitching core has struck out 44 and allow a batting average of 5.71.
