TULSA�€"All-American Dennis Bigley (Lancaster,
Texas) became the all-time victories leader in both Oral Roberts
University and Mid-Continent Conference history by firing a one-hit
shutout in game two of a Mid-Con doubleheader sweep of Southern
Utah, Saturday at J.L. Johnson Stadium. The Golden Eagles won the
opener 3-1 and 4-0 in the nightcap behind Bigley.
Bigley (5-2) had failed
in his previous two attempts to break the record he shared with
former ORU ace Michael Rogers. But on Saturday he was brilliant,
allowing only a lead-off single to Charlie Hahl �€"
who was subsequently caught stealing �€" and then
retiring the game's final 20 hitters. Bigley is now 35-7 in his
career.
ORU (17-13, 2-0) gave
Bigley more than enough runs with a 3-run third inning. Catcher
Brian
Aguailar (San Luis Obispo, Calif.) led off with a single
and advanced to second when shortstop Michael Hollimon (Dallas,
Texas) was safe at first on a sacrifice bunt attempt. After second
baseman Brian
Hanson (Kelsyville, Calif.) reached on a fielder's choice
to load the bases, centerfielder Tim Torres (Rocklin,
Calif.) gave ORU a 1-0 run with a single to left. Hollimon scored
on a passed ball for a 2-0 lead and designated hitter Rene Recio (Corpus
Christi, Texas) made it 3-0 with an RBI groundout.
Hollimon made it 4-0
with an RBI single in the fourth.
Bigley, meanwhile, was
cruising. The senior right-hander needed just 75 pitches to subdue
the Thunderbirds (12-16, 0-2). He struck out six, including a pair
in the fourth, and didn't walk a batter.
Southern Utah's Justin
Abbott (2-4) took the loss in game two.
In game one, ORU's
Taylor
McIntyre (Edmond, Okla.) and Daniel Greenwalt (LaHabra,
Calif.) cmbined a four-hitter in ORU's 3-1 win.
McIntyre (3-6) battled
with early control problems and Southern Utah finally took
advantage in the fourth. Aaron Nelson led off with a walk and
reached third on a hit-and-run single by Mike Martin. Jeff
Oliverson followed with an infield single and Southern Utah led
1-0. McIntyre averted further damage when Martin was thrown out a
third on the front end of a double steal attempt, and the next two
batters grounded out and filed out.
Bigley tied it a 1-1 in
the bottom of the fourth with a solo home run, his second of the
season.
ORU gained a 3-1 lead
in the bottom of the fifth with a pair of two-out runs. Third
baseman Jon
Tackett (Tulsa, Okla.) led off with a single and was
sacrificed to third by right fielder Kelly Minissale (Murphy,
Texas). After Aguailar lined out to center, Hollimon and Hanson
were hit pitch by SUU starter Dusty Nielsen (1-4). Torres followed
with a hot shot to second which Hahl misplayed, allowing two runs
to score and giving ORU a 3-1 lead.
Greenwalt replaced
McIntyre to start the seventh and allowed only a two-out walk in
the eighth. Greenwalt struck out five in three shutout innings for
his second save.
McIntyre settled down
after a tough start, allowing one runs on four hits with three
walsk and three strikeouts, ending a personal two-game losing
streak.
The Golden Eagles and
Thunderbirds conclude their four-game series with a 12 noon
doubleheader on Sunday.
--ORU--
