EVANSVILLE, Ind. — The Oakland Golden Grizzlies Baseball team (1-6, 0-0 HL) fell to the Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles (6-2, 0-0 OVC) in a narrow 7-6 loss on Saturday afternoon at USI Baseball Field. The Golden Grizzlies rallied with a four-run third inning and added another run in the fifth, but the Screaming Eagles' late two-run seventh inning secured the game.

Redshirt-sophomore Lucas Day contributed significantly off of a home run and scored two runs while also drawing two walks at the plate. Sophomore Aidan Schuck added in two hits and an RBI, as redshirt-sophomore Tony Konopiots added to the Golden Grizzlies offense, recording a double and driving in two runs.

Southern Indiana scored five unearned runs in the bottom of the second inning, capitalizing on two Oakland errors before Oakland responded in the third inning with four runs. Freshman Mason Palermo led off with a double into right field and Schuck followed up with a single to the shortstop. A two-RBI double by Konopiots brought Oakland on the board, with Day and redshirt-senior Jack Lux each contributing with a walk and a two-RBI single, respectively.

In the fifth inning, Day hit a solo home run to center field, tying the game for the Golden Grizzlies.

Southern Indiana regained the lead in the seventh inning after Hunter Miller's two-RBI single plated two runs, extending its lead to the final score.

Oakland attempted a comeback in the ninth frame: sophomore Sam Patton doubled to left center and scored on Schuck's RBI single, but the rally fell short in the series finale.

Left-hander Tanner Ware started on the mound, pitching 5 innings, allowing 7 hits with no earned runs to keep up a perfect 0.00 ERA this season, as he picked up two strikeouts on the bump. Sophomore Andrew Landis contributed two innings of work in relief, giving up four hits and two earned runs, as she struck out three. Junior Owen Thomson closed the game with a scoreless inning, facing three batters and recording two groundouts, throwing seven strikes in 11 pitches.

The Golden Grizzlies will be back on the mound as they head for SEC territory for an eight-game road trip starting with the University of Georgia in Athens, on Friday, Feb. 27 at 3 p.m. ET.


How to Follow Oakland Baseball: For complete information on Oakland Baseball, follow the team on X at @OaklandBSB and head coach Brian Nelson at @CoachNelly11. The team is also on Instagram.