FRANKLIN, Wis. — Oakland (11-39, 5-18 HL) fell to Milwaukee (21-31, 13-10 H) with a final score of 8–4 on Friday at Franklin Field. Despite collecting 12 hits, including six doubles, Oakland could not overcome Milwaukee's early start.
Redshirt-junior
Sam Griffith posted a strong performance at the plate with three hits, including two doubles, and crossed the plate twice. Junior
Nick Mardis also had an impressive outing on offense, recording a season-high three hits with two doubles and also scored twice as sophomore
Aidan Schuck added two RBIs and a hit to his record. Redshirt-sophomore
Lucas Day tacked on to the team's efforts with a double, recording a hit and an RBI.
The Panthers started the scoring in the first inning with a two-run homer before Oakland responded in the third. Mardis doubled and later scored on an RBI sac-bunt by fifth-year
Kyle Revere, narrowing the gap to 2–1. However, Milwaukee responded with a solo home run, extending its lead by the end of the inning.
Oakland continued to chip away in the fourth frame. Griffith doubled into right-center field and scored on a single by Schuck, bringing the score to 3–2. The fifth saw Milwaukee add another run with an RBI single, making it a 4–2 ballgame.
Oakland's offense remained persistent in the sixth inning. After Griffith singled and redshirt-senior
Jack Lux hit a ground-rule double, Schuck's RBI groundout allowed Griffith to score. The Panthers matched that with a run of its own, also scoring on an RBI groundout, keeping the lead at 5–3.
In the seventh inning, the Golden Grizzlies' Mardis singled and scored off a double by Day, reducing Milwaukee's lead to just a run. Milwaukee answered back with a run of its own on another RBI groundout, before extending its lead in the eighth inning with a two-RBI single.
Freshman right-hander
Josh Rosenblitt pitched 3.1 innings for Oakland, allowing just three runs off of five hits, while issuing a strikeout at the plate. Sophomore
Wyatt Ruppenthal provided brief but effective relief, facing just two batters and throwing four pitches without allowing a hit or run. Redshirt-junior
George Hansen pitched three innings of work and allowed five runs on four hits before senior
Jaxson Easterlin closed the game with a solid inning of relief, surrendering just one hit and no runs.
The Golden Grizzlies and the Panthers will meet for game three of the series tomorrow, May 16 at Franklin Field. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
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