Golden Grizzlies Drop Defensive Battle Against Mastodons in Extras, 4-3 - Oakland University Athletics (2024)

FORT WAYNE, Ind. - The Golden Grizzlies fell to the Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons in 10 innings, 4-3, this afternoon on Mastodon Field.

The Golden Grizzlies (30-25, 17-12 HL) were led by Lucas Day and John Lauinger who tallied a pair of hits each as every Golden Grizzly but one in the lineup recorded at least a hit. Ian Cleary led the team with a pair of RBI as Hunter Pidek turned in another quality start in 7.0 innings pitched.

The Mastodons (18-34, 11-18 HL) also had a pair of players record a pair of hits as Grant Thoroman led with a pair of RBI. Starter Carter Sabol led the game with seven strikeouts.

The Golden Grizzlies got off to a quick start as Brandon Nigh found first off a single, followed up by a first-pitch home run from Ian Cleary to grab its first pair of runs. Each team didn't find home during its next at-bats before the Mastodons scored its first run in the bottom of the second off a sacrifice fly. Purdue Fort Wayne saw its deficit turn to a lead as a solo home run was followed by a triple and sacrifice fly to put the team ahead by one.

The Golden Grizzlies had a prime opportunity to strike back in the sixth as it loaded the bases with three outs to work with. Oakland, however, was only able to cross one home off a balk as the game was tied, 3-3. The Mastodons nearly broke the stalemate in the seventh as it had runners on the corners with one out, but a soft hit to Nigh at third turned into a double play to get out of the inning still tied. The script flipped to Oakland as it had a runner 90 feet from the plate in the ninth, but the Mastodons forced the final out, as Oakland forced three in the bottom, to force extra innings.

Oakland laid down a single in the 10th but would be Oakland's only hit of extra innings as the Mastodons were due up. Purdue Fort Wayne loaded up the bases with one out and hit a single to right field to take the game in 10 innings, 4-3, and tie the series.

Both teams tallied 10 hits and were both perfect on the field with no errors recorded. The teams matched each other with a trio of extra-base hits as Oakland left nine players stranded as Purdue Fort Wayne left four stranded.

The Golden Grizzlies return to the diamond for the series rubber match tomorrow, with first pitch set for 1:00 p.m. ET.