ROCHESTER, Mich. — Junior
Ben Clark and the Oakland Golden Grizzlies (11-37, 5-16 HL) secured a 13-10 victory over Akron (21-31, 11-19 MAC) on Tuesday afternoon for their final game of the season at the Oakland Baseball Field. Oakland's offense erupted for six runs in the sixth inning, which proved pivotal in the home win.
Clark delivered a career performance, hitting 4-for-4 at the plate with a home run and driving in two runs while scoring five times. Fifth-year
Kyle Revere contributed with two hits and two runs scored, showcasing his speed by also stealing two bases as sophomore
Aidan Schuck added to the scoring with an RBI and a hit in his appearance at the plate. Redshirt-sophomore
Lucas Day provided two RBIs with a hit, further boosting the team's offensive output.
The Zips opened the game with a three-run double to take the lead before Clark initiated the scoring for the Golden Grizzlies and responded with a solo home run to left field in the bottom of the first inning.
Oakland trimmed the deficit in the third frame when Clark advanced to third on a wild pitch and then scored on another wild pitch, making it 3–2 in favor of Akron.
In the bottom of the fourth, redshirt-junior
Sam Griffith singled up the middle, stole second, and was driven home by redshirt-sophomore
Boston Halloran's RBI single, tying the game at three apiece. However, the Zips regained the lead in their half of the inning with a solo homer and an RBI single, bringing the score to 5–3.
Day's RBI single in the fifth inning scored Clark, reducing Akron's lead to 5–4. Oakland took a decisive lead in the sixth inning, capitalizing on errors and key hits, including a two-RBI error and a wild pitch, resulting in a six-run inning and a 10–6 lead.
Akron closed the gap in the seventh with a two-run homer, but Oakland maintained the lead at 10–8. In the eighth, the Golden Grizzlies extended their lead with a passed ball allowing Clark to score, a sacrifice fly by Day that brought home Revere, and redshirt-sophomore
Tony Konopiots' RBI single, making it 13–8.
Akron attempted a comeback in the ninth with two runs off RBI singles, but Oakland secured the victory with a final score of 13–10.
Freshman right-hander
Will Paxson started the game for Oakland, pitching an inning and allowing three earned runs on two hits while picking up a strikeout. Junior
Jordan Dahlof provided stability in relief, pitching 3.0 innings, giving up two runs and earning three strikeouts before senior
Jaxson Easterlin earned the win, pitching 2.0 innings, allowing a run on three hits, maintaining his unblemished win-loss record. Senior
Tanner Ware closed down the bullpen for the Golden Grizzlies, allowing just two earned runs on four hits over 2.0 innings of work.
Oakland will travel to face Milwaukee for their final three-game series of the regular season May 14-16. First pitch for game one on Thursday is set for 6 p.m ET in Franklin, Wis. and will be streamed 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
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