COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- Kyle Parcus and Scott
Beerer combined to strike out 14 batters as 11th-ranked Texas
A&M defeated Oral Roberts 6-3 in the opening game of NCAA
Regional play for both teams, Friday at Olsen Field.
ORU (41-19) next plays Houston in an elimination game at 10 a.m.
The Cougars lost 9-3 to Alabama in the day's first game.
Parcus (6-3) fanned 11 in 7-plus innings of work, and allowed
three runs on seven hits with one walk. Beerer picked up his 13th
save with two shutout innings of relief, fanning three.
ORU starter Dennis Bigley (10-3) and Parcus battled to a
scoreless standoff until A&M broke through in the bottom of the
fourth. Bigley, who had retired the game's first 10 batters,
allowed a one-out single to Cliff Pennigton, then served up a
two-out, two-run home run to Justin Ruggiano on an 0-2 pitch to
give the Aggies a 2-0 lead.
A&M's John Infante tagged Bigley for a solo home run leading
off the fourth to put A&M on top 3-0, but the Golden Eagles
tied the game in the sixth. Grant Plumley and David Castillo hit
consecutive one-out singles and, after Bigley grounded out to
first, Andy Hargrove smashed a three-run homer just to the left of
the batter's eye in centerfield, tying the game at 3-3.
But once again, the longball put A&M on top as Kevin Whelan
hit his first home run of the season with two outs and none on in
the seventh for a 4-3 Aggies lead.
ORU missed out on a scoring opportunity in the top of the eighth
thanks to a fine defensive play. Matt VanDerBosch led off with a
single and Plumley reached after getting hit by Parcus. Beerer
relieved and Castillo bunted the runners to second and third.
Bigley then lifted a fly ball to medium rightfield where Corry
Patton made the catch and his throw beat VanDerBosch to the plate
for the inning ending double play.
A&M added two more runs in the bottom of the eighth and ORU
put two runners on with two outs in the ninth, but Scott Modeste
struck out to end the game.
Plumely led ORU with three hits, while Ruggiano and Pennington
each went 2-for-4 for Texas A&M. Bigley went 7-plus innings,
allowing six runs on eight hits while striking out five without a
walk.
