Oakland's Ben Green Throws 9 Strikeouts in Championship Win

Oakland's Ben Green stepped onto the mound Wednesday and delivered the performance of his life when his team needed it most.

The Golden Grizzlies pitcher threw seven strong innings with a career-high nine strikeouts, allowing no earned runs as Oakland defeated Youngstown State 10-2 in the opening game of the 2026 Horizon League Baseball Championship in Dayton. The dominant performance sends the fifth-seeded Golden Grizzlies into Thursday's matchup against top-seeded Wright State.

Oakland came out swinging from the first inning. Ben Clark crossed home plate first, followed by teammates Kyle Revere and Aidan Schuck to give the Golden Grizzlies an early 3-0 lead that set the tone for the entire game.

While Youngstown State's Brady Shannon managed to get the Penguins on the board in the fourth inning, Oakland responded with six unanswered runs over the next five innings. The offensive surge put the game out of reach despite a ninth-inning home run from YSU's Luke Rossi.

Carter Hain shined for Oakland both at the plate and on the basepaths. He went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and scored one of Oakland's runs in the third inning, proving that championship baseball requires excellence in every aspect of the game.

Why This Inspires

Green's performance shows what happens when preparation meets opportunity. His career-best strikeout total didn't come from luck but from hours of practice and the courage to trust his abilities when the stakes were highest.

The Golden Grizzlies' collective effort demonstrates the power of team chemistry. While Green dominated on the mound, his teammates backed him up with timely hitting and smart baserunning that turned a good performance into a memorable victory.

Now Oakland advances to face the tournament's top seed with momentum and confidence on their side.