WICHITA, Kan. -- The Oral Roberts University baseball team left
nine runners stranded on base as they dropped a non-conference
contest to Wichita State, 4-2, Tuesday night at Eck Stadium in
Wichita.
ORU (15-13) lost to Wichita State (24-9) for just the second time
in their last seven meetings.
Trailing 2-0 after five innings, the Golden Eagle offense found
some life in the sixth. Michael Hollimon (Dallas,
Texas) started things off with a walk before advancing to second on
a wild pitch. After a Brian Hanson (Kelseyville,
Calif.) pop out, Tim Torres (San Pablo, Calif.)
sent a 1-0 offering over the wall in left field for an
opposite-field shot that tied the game at 2-2.
The Shockers didn't waste any time taking back the lead, as they
made it 3-2 in their half of the sixth. After a single and a walk
put a pair of runners on, ORU starter Dane Towery
(Mustang, Okla.) uncorked a wild pitch that put both runners in
scoring position with only one out.
Towery then got WSU's Joe Muich to ground out to Hanson, but Derek
Schermerhorn scored from third in the process, signaling the end of
the line for Towery. Matt Hancock (Okmulgee,
Okla.) came on in relief, getting J.R. DiMercurio to fly out to
left field and end the threat.
Towery went 5.2 innings, giving up three runs on nine hits while
walking two and striking out two.
The Shockers plated an insurance run in the seventh, making it 4-2
in favor of the home team.
The Golden Eagles looked to make a late push in the ninth, as a
pair of walks and a single loaded the bases with two outs. But WSU
closer Damon Sublett got Hanson to ground out to shortstop, ending
the game.
Kohl Nanney (1-0) picked up his first win of the season for the
Shockers, while Sublett notched his second save.
Ricky Rivera (Santa Isabel, P.R.) led the ORU
offense with a pair of hits, while Torres went 1-for-3 with the
homer and two RBIs.
The Golden Eagles will now step into conference play, as they host
Southern Utah in a four-game weekend set. The teams will square off
in a Saturday double header, with game one set for a 2:00 p.m.
start.
--ORU--
