In a matchup against the Michigan Wolverines on the road this Tuesday, the Oakland Golden Grizzlies baseball team (5-17, 3-3 Horizon) rallied back in the final inning to claim a momentum-building 7-6 win.
Although this win doesn’t shift the Horizon League standings, the Golden Grizzlies remain tied in second place with Northern Kentucky.
Kyle Revere was a standout performer in this game for Oakland, finishing with four hits and two RBIs. Along with Revere, Sam Griffith came up big when the Golden Grizzlies needed it the most, eventually delivering a go-ahead single to put Oakland up in the ninth inning.
The Golden Grizzlies were first to the punch in this ballgame, as a trio of walks loaded the bases for Oakland in the second inning. After a Michigan pitching change, Boston Halloran was up next to bat, and promptly walked as well for Oakland’s first run.
With a chance to add on, Kyle Revere singled up the middle, bringing two runners home in the process, putting the Golden Grizzlies ahead 3-0.
Michigan responded in the fourth inning with Noah Miller and Evan Haeger hitting consecutive singles. With Miller and Haeger on, Greg Pace Jr. hit a third consecutive single for the Wolverines, bringing home Miller as a result.
Following Pace Jr.’s RBI single, the Wolverines had runners on first and third. With no outs, groundouts from Drew Culbertson and Brayden Jefferis were enough to bring home both runners, tying the game up at 3-3.
In the fifth inning, Oakland swiftly took back the lead. With the bases loaded with no outs, Tony Konopiots was walked on a full count to make it a 4-3 ballgame. Although the Golden Grizzlies couldn’t capitalize and score more in prime scoring position, they remained in the driver’s seat for the next three innings.
Come the eighth inning, the Wolverines showed they weren’t backing down. With runners on first and third with just one out, Culbertson singled off a bunt, tying the game. On Michigan’s next at-bat, Jefferis hit a long two-RBI double to take a 6-4 lead.
Down for the first time in this game, the Golden Grizzlies got busy in the ninth inning. Konopiots got things started with a single, and Carter Hain followed up with a single of his own, advancing pinch runner Max Orozaco to third.
On the next Oakland at-bat, Aidan Orr was walked to load the bases, and following that, Lucas Day grounded out to second base, allowing Orozco to score while advancing runners to second and third.
After four quiet at-bats, Griffith made his fifth and last at-bat count. With a clean count, Griffith singled through the right side of the infield, allowing runners Cameron Spezia and Drew DelCollo to score, making it a 7-6 ballgame in favor of Oakland.
Still, the Wolverines didn’t go down without a fight in the ninth. Dane Morrow was walked along with Haeger before a pitch hit Culbertson, loading the bases for Michigan with just a single out.
After an Oakland pitching change, Ryan Donley got the Golden Grizzlies out of the jam as Jefferis lined into a game-ending double play, sealing Oakland’s comeback win.
On Deck
Up next, the Golden Grizzlies will hit the road and return to conference play as they take on the Wright State Raiders in a three-game series starting on Friday, March 27 and ending on Sunday, March 29.
The Raiders will be another tough test for the Golden Grizzlies, as Wright State is currently in first place in the Horizon League standings and holds a 9-12 record and is undefeated in conference play, having won against the nationally ranked Georgia Bulldogs and Tennessee Volunteers.
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