![\"Southern](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/USI.png\")
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Next Game:<\/p>\n
at Southern Indiana<\/p>\n
2\/20\/2026 | 2 PM ET<\/p>\n
\n Feb. 20 (Fri) \/ 2 PM ET
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\n at\u00a0Southern Indiana
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History <\/a><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n EVANSVILLE, Ind. \u2014\u00a0The Oakland Golden Grizzlies (1-3, 0-0 HL) fell to Southern Indiana (3-2, 0-0 OVC) with a final score of 18-9 in the series opener\u00a0on Thursday at the\u00a0USI Baseball Field. The Golden Grizzlies put up a strong second inning with five runs, highlighted and\u00a0despite a late effort with a run in the ninth frame, the Screaming Eagles’ eight-run first inning and subsequent scoring proved decisive.<\/p>\n Junior Aidan Orr<\/a> led the offense with a home run, driving in three runs and scoring twice. Junior Nick Mardis<\/a> contributed with a triple and two RBIs, also scoring once, while fifth-year Kyle Revere<\/a> was active on the base paths, successfully stealing two bases and collecting two hits. Senior Carter Hain<\/a> showed patience at the plate against the Screaming Eagles bullpen, drawing three walks while scoring two runs.<\/p>\n Southern Indiana took control early, scoring eight runs in the first inning. A combination of hit batters, singles, and walks contributed to the runs, putting the home team\u00a0ahead.<\/p>\n Oakland responded in the second inning with Orr’s three-run homer, bringing in junior Ben Clark<\/a> and Hain. A wild pitch allowed Mardis to score, and sophomore Aidan Schuck<\/a> stole home, narrowing the deficit by three runs.<\/p>\n In the third inning, the Screaming Eagles\u00a0added three more runs, aided by a sacrifice fly and an RBI single, extending its lead to 11-5.<\/p>\n Oakland cut into the lead in the fifth inning. Sophomore Sam Patton<\/a> scored on a throwing error, followed by a two-RBI triple from Mardis, bringing home Hain and Orr and another three-run ballgame in Evansville.<\/p>\n Southern Indiana widened its lead in the seventh inning, scoring four runs, including a two-RBI triple before picking up three more in the eighth frame.<\/p>\n Oakland scored once more in the ninth inning with redshirt-freshman\u00a0Max Orozco<\/a> singling in redshirt-sophomore\u00a0Lucas Day<\/a>, but Southern Indiana secured the victory with a nine-run advantage.<\/p>\n Oakland’s pitching staff faced challenges on the mound. Sophomore Wyatt Ruppenthal<\/a>\u00a0earned his first Golden Grizzly start and recorded just one out, allowing five earned runs on two hits, and a walk in 1\/3 of an inning. Redshirt-junior George Hansen<\/a> followed, also pitching 1\/3 of an inning, surrendering three earned runs, two hits, and two walks. Redshirt-junior Stephen Ruhle<\/a> provided some relief, pitching 1 2\/3 innings with two strikeouts, before\u00a0Camden Cooper<\/a> picked up most of the game from the Oakland bullpen, pitching 3.2 innings, allowing one earned run on four hits with two strikeouts at the plate. Finally, redshirt-junior Ryan Donley<\/a> and redshirt-senior Josh Korson<\/a> combined for 1 1\/3 innings, giving up six earned runs, with Korson contributing three hits.<\/p>\n The Golden Grizzlies will stay tight in Evansville, set for games two and three in a doubleheader tomorrow, Feb. 20, at the USI Baseball Field. First pitch of the first game tomorrow is set for 2 p.m. ET on ESPN+.<\/p>\n How to Follow Oakland Baseball: For complete information on Oakland Baseball, follow the team on X at @OaklandBSB<\/a> and head coach Brian Nelson<\/a> at @CoachNelly11<\/a>. The team is also on Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n