CLEMSON
-- Oral Roberts University couldn't get its offense on track as the
Golden Eagles fell to the College of Charleston, 5-2, in the first
round of the 2005 NCAA Tournament Friday afternoon at Doug
Kingsmore Stadium. ORU will
face the loser of tonight's Clemson/North Carolina A&T game in
an elimination contest tomorrow afternoon at
3:00 p.m.
The
game began as a pitcher's duel, as neither starter allowed a hit
through the first 3 1/2 innings. The Cougars (48-13) finally broke open
the scoreless tie in the fourth when Chris Campbell sent a 1-2
offering from Bigley (11-3) over the left field fence with a man
aboard for a 2-0 Charleston lead.
Ricky
Rivera (Santa Isabel, P.R.) got the Golden Eagles (40-19)
right back in the game in the top of the fifth, rocketing a shot
off the top of the left field scoreboard to cut the deficit to
2-1.
Bigley
found himself in some trouble again in the fifth when a pair of
singles and a walk loaded the bases with only one out. But he got back-to-back infield pop
ups to end the inning without any damage.
ORU
tied the game at two in the sixth thanks to a Michael
Hollimon (Dallas, Texas) triple that scored Brian
Aguailar (Lompoc, Calif.) from second base.
Charleston
countered with three runs in their half of inning to go back in
front 5-2. A bases loaded
walk would signal the end of the day for Bigley, who was relieved
by Daniel Greenwalt (LaHabra, Calif.) with the
Golden Eagles trailing 3-2.
Greenwalt
came in and immediately got a strike out, but Brett Gardner
followed with a two-out two-RBI single that made the score 5-2.
Bigley
took the loss for ORU, allowing five runs (all earned) on four hits
in 5.1 innings of work. He
also walked seven while striking out just two. Charleston's Ryan
Edell (8-2) picked up the win, allowing two runs on five hits in
7.2 innings, striking out nine with just one walk.
The
Golden Eagles made a late push in the ninth, getting a pair of
runners on with two outs.
John Tackett (Tulsa, Okla.) came to the plate as
the tying run, but Cougar reliever Brett Harker got Tackett to
ground out and end the game. Harker picked up his 15th
save.
ORU
will return to the field on Saturday in a 3:00 p.m. elimination
game against the loser of tonight's Clemson/North Carolina A&T
contest.
Regional Notes: ORU
is now 20-33 all-time in NCAA post-season play
�€¦ Bigley's seven walks are a career-high
�€¦ Rivera's home run was his fourth in 12 career
post-season games (including Mid-Con Tournament)
�€¦ ORU is now 2-15 this season
�€¦ when trailing after six innings.
--ORU--
