ATHENS, Ga. — The Oakland Golden Grizzlies (1-7, 0-0 HL) fell to the No. 9/11 Georgia Bulldogs (7-2, 0-0 SEC) with a decisive 16-6 defeat on Friday at Foley Field. Despite the loss, Oakland produced eight hits and scored across five innings. Georgia's offense proved overpowering with five home runs and a crucial eight-run fifth inning that cemented its lead.

Sophomore Aidan Schuck recorded three RBIs and added two hits, including a double, in the game. Junior Aidan Orr contributed by crossing home plate and collecting two hits while also driving in a run. Sophomore Sam Patton matched that effort with a run scored, two hits, and an RBI. On the pitching side, redshirt-sophomore reliever Luke Riggs delivered a clean inning, allowing no hits and striking out a batter.

After Georgia struck with a solo homer into right field in the bottom of the first, Oakland responded in the top of the third inning. Grad senior Carter Hain singled to right field, and Orr followed up with a single to first base. Patton then delivered an infield hit, good for an RBI single to third base, scoring Hain. Schuck added another RBI with a single to left field, bringing Orr home. The score was later tied 2-2 up after three innings.

In the top of the fifth, Patton singled and scored on Schuck's double to left center, bringing Oakland's total to three runs. The Bulldogs responded in the bottom of the inning with a potent offensive display, including three home runs that contributed to eight runs, pushing its lead to 10 more runs through five innings.

Oakland added two more runs in the sixth inning. Junior Ben Clark and redshirt-senior Jack Lux drew walks, and Hain later walked to load the bases. Orr walked in a run, and Schuck was hit by a pitch, bringing in another runner.

In the seventh inning, Oakland's Lucas Day walked and was replaced by pinch runner Sam Griffith, who later scored on a catcher's throw as Hain was caught stealing. Georgia extended its lead with three more runs in the bottom of the seventh, resulting in a run-rule ballgame.

Oakland's pitching staff had an active outing against Georgia. Junior Jordan Dahlof started on the mound and pitched three innings, allowing seven hits and five earned runs, while picking up a strikeout. Senior Jaxson Easterlin followed in relief, giving up four runs on three hits in his one inning of work, as redshirt-junior Ryan Donley also surrendered four runs on three hits in an inning. Riggs provided a solid performance in relief, pitching a scoreless 6th inning with no hits and a strikeout before redshirt-senior Josh Korson and junior Blake Sehlke tag-teamed closing the game, with Korson giving up two runs in 2/3 of an inning and Sehlke allowing a run.

The Golden Grizzlies will stay in Athens for a Saturday doubleheader against the Bulldogs, starting at 1 p.m. ET on Feb. 28. Both games will be available to watch on SEC Network+.


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.