ROCHESTER, Mich. - The Oakland Golden Grizzlies return to the OU Grizz Dome on Friday as they host the Cleary Cougars in a non-conference doubleheader on Friday.

Oakland has been dominant on its home field this season, opening the year with a perfect 6-0 record inside the OU Grizz Dome. During that stretch, the Golden Grizzlies have outscored opponents 36-10 and will look to keep that momentum rolling as they aim to improve to 8-0 at home.

Pitching has been a major strength for Oakland early in the year. The Golden Grizzlies currently hold the best team ERA in the Horizon League at 3.41, showcasing a deep and reliable pitching staff that has consistently limited opposing offenses.

Offensively, Oakland has been one of the most balanced lineups in the conference. Five Golden Grizzlies: Kam Troyer, Addison Caldwell, Alyssa Balcom, Maggie Murphy, and Storm Kentros, all rank among the top 15 in the Horizon League in batting average, giving Oakland production throughout the lineup.

Defensively, the Golden Grizzlies have also been sharp in the field, posting the second-best fielding percentage in the Horizon League at .974. The combination of steady defense and strong pitching has helped Oakland control games and limit extra opportunities for opponents.

Cleary enters the matchup with a 4-9 record, having lost to Clarke (IA) 4-3 in nine innings on Mar. 6.

The Cougars were  picked to finish near the top half of the Wolverine–Hoosier Athletic Conference in the 2026 preseason poll. The Cougars finished last season with an 18-26 overall record and a 13-11 mark in conference play, earning the sixth seed in the WHAC Tournament.

Offensively, the Cougars are led by freshman outfielder Brroke Williams, who has been one of Cleary's most consistent run producers this season with a team-high .407 batting average. In the circle, Kami Linton has emerged as one of the team's top pitching options with a pair of wins so far this season.

Oakland and Cleary met last season in Rochester, where the Golden Grizzlies swept a doubleheader and outscored the Cougars 15-3. The Golden Grizzlies will look to carry that momentum into Friday's contest as they continue their strong start at home, with Friday's matches starting at 12:30 p.m.