TULSA�€"Michael Hollimon (Dallas, Texas) hit a solo home run in the opener and his two-run double in the nightcap gave Dennis Bigley (Lancaster, Texas) all the runs he needed as Oral Roberts University swept a Mid-Continent Conference doubleheader from Valparaiso, 7-2 and 2-0, Saturday at J.L. Johnson Stadium.

With ORU trailing Valpo (2-0 in the bottom of the first, Hollimon led off the inning with his team-leading sixth home run of the season, one of three homers hit in the game by the Golden Eagles (24-16, 9-1 Mid-Con), putting ORU on the board.

Centerfielder Kelly Minissale (Murphy, Texas) followed with a walk and moved to third when second baseman Brian Hanson (Kelseyville, Calif.) reached on a two-out throwing error. First baseman Rene Recio (Corpus Christi, Texas) followed with a three-run homer to center and ORU led 4-2.

ORU starting pitcher Taylor McIntyre (Edmond, Okla.) kept Valpo (11-23, 4-8) at bay over the next four-and-two-thirds innings despite not having his best stuff. McIntyre (4-6), who retired the side in order in the second, faced trouble in the third and fourth innings as Valpo put a pair of runners on with less than two outs in each inning. But the junior left-hander got out of both jams to keep ORU in front.

Recio gave ORU a 5-2 lead with an RBI fielder's choice in the fifth inning. Third baseman Jon Tackett (Tulsa, Okla.) led off with a single, moved to third on a one-out hit-and-run single by Hanson, and scored when Recio's grounder to short forced Hanson at second.

McIntyre finally gave way to the bullpen with a runner on and two outs in the sixth. Dane Towery (Mustang, Okla.) got a pop up to get out of the sixth and worked around a two-out walk in the seventh by striking out rightfielder Kevin Kutansky to end the inning.

Leftfielder Travis DeBondt (Bakersfield, Calif.) belted a two-out, two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth for a 7-2 lead and Daniel Greenwalt (LaHabra, Calif.), who relieved Towery to start the eighth, worked a perfect ninth to preserve the win and earn his third save of the year.

Game two was proved to be another dominating performance by Bigley (7-3). The senior right-hander gave up just four hits and struck out seven batters in earning his second shutout of the season. In three Mid-Con starts this season, Bigley hasn't allowed a run in 20.1 innings, allowing seven hits and striking out 18 batters. He lowered his season ERA to 1.95 with the seven shutout innings.

Hollimon gave Bigley all the runs he needed when his two-run double in the second inning capped a two-out rally. After Tim Torres (Rocklin, Calif.) and DeBondt grounded out to start the inning, designated hitter Chris Sweeney (Escondido, Calif.) and catcher Brian Aguailar (Lompoc, Calif.) connected on back-to-back singles, setting the stage for Hollimon's doubled to deep left-centerfield.

After that, Bigley and Valpo's Dallas Cawiezell (1-1) put up nothing but zeros the rest of the way. Bigley set down the Crusaders in order in the seventh, striking out second baseman Jon Rupno to end the game.

The Golden Eagles and Crusaders conclude their weekend series with a 12 noon doubleheader on Sunday.

--ORU--