ROCHESTER, Mich. — Head coach Brian Nelson and the Oakland Golden Grizzlies (8-19, 4-5 HL) secured a commanding 21–13 victory over Rochester Christian (11-19, 4-9 WHAC) at the Oakland Baseball Field. Oakland's offense erupted with an 11-run third inning, featuring six home runs across the game for the first time since 2023. Despite Rochester Christian's efforts, including a five-run seventh frame, Oakland maintained a strong lead throughout.

Redshirt-sophomore Boston Halloran led the offensive charge with a grand slam, five RBIs, and three runs scored. Redshirt-sophomore Tony Konopiots contributed with his first career multi-home run game with two blasts, tabbing three total hits, and driving in two runs. Sophomore Aidan Schuck added three RBIs and scored a run, as grad senior Carter Hain also made an impact with a home run, two RBIs, and four runs scored.

The Warriors took an early lead in the first inning, scoring four runs with a triple and scoring on a throwing error. Oakland responded in the bottom of the second frame when Konopiots hit a solo home run into left field and Halloran doubled to bring home Hain, tying the game at four apiece after two.

RCU came back with the lead in the third inning, adding on two runs from an error and a sacrifice fly, before Oakland's offense erupted with a big bottom half of the frame that solidified the lead the rest of the game. Junior Nick Mardis hit a three-run double before fifth-year Kyle Revere also doubled down the right field line to score one and back-to-back RBI groundouts contributed to the offense. Halloran later hit a grand slam to contribute to the 11-run inning, pushing Oakland ahead 15–6 by the end.

Oakland added three more runs in the fourth inning with another home run from Konopiots and a two-run homer by Hain, extending the lead by 12 runs.

Rochester Christian attempted a comeback, scoring five runs in the seventh inning, including a pair of RBI singles. Oakland redshirt-junior Sam Griffith hit his first home run of the season and freshman Cameron Spezia drew a bases-loaded walk, adding two runs in the bottom half.

In the eighth inning, both teams added a run each, as junior Ben Clark scored on a bases-loaded walk by redshirt-sophomore Lucas Day. Rochester Christian managed no runs in the ninth frame, sealing Oakland's 21–13 victory.

Freshman Will Paxson started and pitched an inning, allowing four runs on four hits, with two strikeouts, before redshirt-junior Stephen Ruhle delivered 2.0 innings of work, yielding two runs without allowing a hit and earning his second win of the season. Of the eight others from the bullpen on the mound, freshman Tagrett Dillard recorded his first career strikeout in his scoreless 2/3 inning and Blake Sehlke closed things down for OU, striking out two in his perfect inning.

Oakland will host Milwaukee for a three-game series starting on Friday, April 10 at the Oakland Baseball Field. First pitch Friday is slated for 3 p.m. on ESPN+.


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.