With torrential downpours and ferocious winds looming, the Golden Grizzly baseball team was able to sneak in a three-game series against the Milwaukee Panthers. The tarp never left the field on Thursday for the scheduled game one of the series, and a doubleheader was announced for Friday March 30.

First pitch was at noon for game one, and the second game followed at four. Oakland took the first game with a score of 6-3, but Milwaukee stormed back and routed the Golden Grizzlies in game two, 16-6. This would prove for an interesting match coming up on Saturday.

Nick Parr went seven strong in game one for the Black and Gold, only allowing two hits and a run accompanied with nine strikeouts. Closer Nate Schweers came on to finish out the game and went two innings strong. Tyler Trovinger and Jordan Jackson led the way for Oakland offensively with two hits a piece.

Co-Head Coach Colin Kaline was very pleased with the game one win.

“The first game we did a great job in all aspects of the game,” Kaline said. “We got a great start from Nick Parr, and he put us in a great position to win.”

Game two of the doubleheader didn’t go as planned for the Golden Grizzlies as the game got away from the team late. Emerson Misch and Mario Camilletti led Oakland with two RBI’s a piece, and Austin Sherry had a solid performance out of the pen going just under five innings and only allowing one run.

“Unfortunately in game two, the game just got away from us and the bullpen got stretched a little thin,” Kaline said.

The third and final game of the series was Saturday, and it shaped up to be a good one. The Golden Grizzlies gave it their all and dominated the Panthers with a final score of 12-7. It was a game full of milestones for the Black and Gold, and it was a great way to end the first home series 2-1.  

Thomas Miller connected with the first home run of his career. That was then followed by Myles Zilinsky’s first career grand slam, which really propelled Oakland to victory.

“It was a fastball up and I just got it in the jet stream… let nature take care of the rest,” Zilinsky said on his grand slam.

Trovinger continued his offensive performance and tacked on another four hits. A little less than a week since striking out a career high 14 batters, Jake Lee had another solid outing, striking out nine. To finish the game out, Schweers came on for a three inning save which resulted in a Golden Grizzly series win.

With this strong weekend by the Black and Gold, the team inched it’s record up in the Horizon League to 4-5 and now look ahead to a single game against Purdue.