Oakland Opens League Play with Series Win at Youngstown State

In the team’s first conference series of the season, the Oakland baseball team (3-15, 2-1 HL) rose to the occasion, winning two games while only losing one against the Youngstown State Penguins on the road this weekend.

The series win ties the Golden Grizzlies with the Milwaukee Panthers for first place in the Horizon League standings, as both teams have started their conference slate 2-1.

Game 1: Oakland 5, Youngstown State 6

The Penguins got on the scoreboard first in game one, as consecutive singles from Brayden Kuriger and Brady Shannon put Youngstown State in great scoring position in the first inning. At the next at-bat, Kendal Spencer brought home both runners with a single to right center to give the Penguins a 2-0 lead.

In the following inning, Chyran Humphries added to the Youngstown State tally with a deep shot to left field to make it a 3-0 ball game.

With a deficit to make up, the Golden Grizzlies did just that. In the top of the fourth, Tony Konopiots hit a solo home run for Oakland’s first run of the game. Although the Golden Grizzlies couldn’t push across another run to close out the inning, they were one step closer to the Penguins’ lead.

Come the fifth inning, the Oakland bats started to heat up. Sam Griffith, Boston Halloran, and Aidan Schuck opened the inning with singles, loading the bases for the Golden Grizzlies. With infielder Kyle Revere up next at bat, he delivered, hitting a grand slam to put Oakland up 5-3.

After Nick Miscavage tallied another Youngstown State run in the sixth, he delivered on his next at-bat in the eighth as well, this time notching a two RBI single to put the Penguins ahead 6-5.

Although Oakland held the lead for much of the middle innings, the fifth inning proved to be the last inning the team would record multiple hits, making the Penguins the winners of game one.

Game 2: Oakland 12, Youngstown State 6

Similar to the first game, the Penguins wasted no time putting runs on the board. In the first inning, Nathan Beckley hit a single before stealing second base. A few at-bats later, Spencer hit a single of his own to bring home Beckley, giving Youngstown State the early 1-0 advantage.

However, Oakland responded in the following inning. After a triple courtesy of Jack Lux to get things started, Ben Clark flied out to right field, allowing Lux to score the game-tying run.

Still, the Penguins had the answer in the bottom of the second. Nic Goodwin reached first on a fielding error before advancing to second on Youngstown State’s first at-bat of the frame. Following a bunt from Miscavage, Goodwin advanced to third and was brought home after Teddy Ruffner grounded out to second base.

In the top of the third, the Golden Grizzlies showed some fight, as Konopiots hit a long triple. After earning a walk with a full-count on the next Oakland at-bat, Carter Hain was caught trying to steal second, allowing Konopiots to score, tying the game up at 2-2.

With a tie ballgame, Lux reached first after a throwing error from Youngstown State’s Ruffner. Clark followed up the error with a second to left-center, bringing Lux home to put Oakland on top, 3-2.

From that point on, Oakland took control of the game as the Golden Grizzlies continued to pile in runs, highlighted by a three-run homer from Lux in the sixth inning that created a comfortable lead the Penguins failed to come back from. 

Game 3: Oakland 4, Youngstown State 3

In the final game of the series, the Penguins once again took the early lead.

At the bottom of the third inning, Beckley made a textbook bunt to get himself to first base. Although Oakland pitcher Camden Cooper struck out Youngstown State’s next two batters, Beckley stole second and was brought home by Alex Jang, who hit a single to right field.

The Golden Grizzlies found some momentum in the fifth, as Sam Patton hit a single, marking Oakland’s first hit since the second inning. On the next at-bat, Revere doubled down the left field line, allowing Patton to score, tying the game up 1-1.

Youngstown State retook its lead in the sixth inning after a single from Kuriger snowballed into Shannon getting hit by the pitch and Humphries getting walked, loading the bases for the Penguins.

With just a single out and Youngstown State in prime scoring position, Goodwin grounded out, allowing Kuriger to score. Now back in the driver’s seat, the Penguins added to their lead after Oakland pitcher Owen Thomson threw a wild pitch, which also marked the end of the inning. Heading into the seventh inning, Youngstown State led, 3-1.

Patton showed the Golden Grizzlies weren’t going down quietly in the following inning, registering a lead-off double. On the next at-bat, Revere made it to first base while Patton scored following a Youngstown State error.

From there, the floodgates opened. Konopiots reached first on a fielder’s choice before advancing to second thanks to a Hain single. Lux followed things up with a single of his own, bringing home Konopiots for the game-tying run.

With runners on first and second, Lucas Day hit yet another single for Oakland, this time allowing Hain to score, giving the Golden Grizzlies a 4-3 lead. Although Day’s hit would be the last Oakland hit of the inning, the Golden Grizzlies headed into the seventh-inning stretch with not only the lead but with momentum.

Oakland’s defense held strong the rest of the game, allowing just two Youngstown State hits through the final three innings, as the Golden Grizzlies secured the series win.

The series win couldn’t have come at a better time for Oakland, which now has momentum after its difficult nonconference start.

On Deck

Up next, the Golden Grizzlies have a two-game battle with the Eastern Michigan Eagles, with the first game on the road on Tuesday, March 17, at 3 p.m. Oakland will play the second game at the Oakland Baseball Field the following day, Wednesday, March 18, at 3 p.m., marking the first home game for the Golden Grizzlies this season.

Looking at the Eagles, they will prove to be an interesting test for Oakland. Eastern Michigan is 4-16 on the season and 0-6 in conference play. Notably, the Eagles have yet to win a game in the month of March.