Purdue Fort Wayne
19-36
Oakland
31-27
‘Dons Advance With 14-8 Win Over Oakland
5/23/2024 1:12:00 AM | Baseball
It is the first victory in program history in the Horizon League Championship. The 'Dons will now play on Thursday (May 23) at 7 p.m. against the lowest remaining seed from play on Thursday.
The 5th seeded 'Dons eliminated the 3rd seeded Oakland with the win.
The game was originally scheduled for 7 p.m. but moved to 8 p.m. after the previous game, Youngstown State's 13-10 upset of Oakland went long. The start was pushed to 9:45 p.m. due to a weather delay. The game was then halted at 10:09 p.m. due to a lightning delay. The contest resumed at 11:05 p.m. with the 'Dons down 2-1 in the top of the second. Jacob Walker smashed a home run on an 0-2 pitch with two on and two out to put the 'Dons up 4-1. With the Golden Grizzlies in a shift, Grant Thoroman popped up to short right. Oakland's third baseman camped under it but failed to make the catch. The error extended the inning allowing Ben Higgins and Cade Fitzpatrick to both add two-RBI hits in the frame.
The 'Dons finished with seven runs in the inning and never relinquished the lead.
Carson Caudill got the win in relief. He is 3-1. Hunter Pidek took the loss. He falls to 3-8.
Caudill didn't allow a hit in 2.1 scoreless innings. Carter Sabol got a no decision for the 'Dons with 4.2 innings of work.
Walker and Nate Simpson both had three hits in the game. Fitzpatrick drove in four while Walker and Camden Karczewski both drove in three. Thoroman scored three times and had two hits including a triple off the top of the wall in the fourth inning.
Oakland concludes the season 31-27. The 'Dons improve to 19-36.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Caudill, Carson (3-1)
L: Hunter Pidek (3-8)
Batting:
2B: Thoroman, Grant 1 ; Higgins, Ben 1 ; Miles, Luke 1
3B: Karczewski, Camden 1 ; Thoroman, Grant 1
HR: Walker, Jacob 1
RBI: Walker, Jacob 3 ; Karczewski, Camden 3 ; Higgins, Ben 2 ; Osterhouse, Justin 1 ; Fitzpatrick, Cade 4 ; Miles, Luke 1
SH: Karczewski, Camden 1 ; Osterhouse, Justin 1
SF: Karczewski, Camden 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Walker, Jacob 3 ; Karczewski, Camden 1 ; Thoroman, Grant 3 ; Higgins, Ben 1 ; Osterhouse, Justin 1 ; Sailors, Brooks 2 ; Miles, Luke 1 ; Simpson, Nate 2
SB: Walker, Jacob 1 ; Simpson, Nate 1
HBP: Osterhouse, Justin 1
Batting:
2B: Ben Clark 1 ; Ian Cleary 1 ; Brandon Heidal 1
HR: Brandon Nigh 1
RBI: Brandon Nigh 2 ; Ben Clark 1 ; Ian Cleary 1 ; Brandon Heidal 2 ; John Lauinger 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Gavin Arseneau 2 ; Brandon Nigh 2 ; Ben Clark 1 ; Ian Cleary 1 ; Brandon Heidal 2
SB: Brandon Nigh 1
HBP: Brandon Nigh 1
