Next Game:
Northern Kentucky
3/21/2026 | 2 PM ET
Mar. 21 (Sat) / 2 PM ET
 Northern Kentucky
ROCHESTER, Mich. — Oakland (3-16, 2-2 HL) fell to Northern Kentucky (9-11, 2-2 HL) with a final score of 9–6 on Friday in the series and home opener at the Oakland Baseball Field. Despite a late three-run rally in the ninth inning, Oakland was unable to overcome a decisive five-run third frame by the Norse. As the Oakland offense outhit NKU, the pitching staff allowed nine hits and four earned runs over the entire game.
Junior Ben Clark contributed by scoring two runs and recording a triple to continue a now 10-game hitting streak. Fifth-year Kyle Revere added two hits while driving in two runs as sophomore Sam Patton finished with three hits and scored twice. In relief, junior George Hansen pitched 3.2 innings, striking out five and allowing just one earned run on the mound.
Oakland took an early lead in the first inning when Clark was hit by a pitch and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Revere’s single to right field allowed Clark to score, giving Oakland a quick one run advantage.
In the third inning, Northern Kentucky responded in the top with five runs, highlighted by a three-run homer to put them ahead. Oakland cut the deficit in the bottom frame as Patton singled and then scored on Clark’s triple to right field before Revere picked up an RBI groundout to score Clark.
Northern Kentucky extended its lead in the sixth inning with three more runs off an RBI single, followed by a ground-rule double and another RBI single to push ahead with a six-run game.
Oakland made a late push in the ninth inning. Redshirt-sophomore Boston Halloran was hit by a pitch and advanced to third on Patton’s single. Revere’s RBI single brought Halloran home, and back-to-back bases-loaded walks by juniors Nick Mardis and Aidan Orr brought in two runs and cut the deficit. Despite the rally, Northern Kentucky secured the 9–6 victory.
Junior right-hander Jordan Dahlof started on the bump for OU, working 3.1 innings, surrendering 5 runs on 4 hits with a strikeout and a clean 0.00 ERA. Junior Blake Sehlke pitched two innings in relief, allowing three earned runs on two hits while facing nine batters. Hansen delivered a strong relief performance to close, earning 5 strikeouts and allowing just 1 run on 3 hits without any walks during his 3.2 innings of work.
Oakland will try to even the series over Northern Kentucky for game two tomorrow, March 21 at “The Den”, the OU Baseball Field at 2 p.m. ET. The game 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 Instagram.