CLEMSON, SC�€"Taylor McIntyre (Edmond,
Okla.) allowed three runs and struck out eight in 7.2 innings, and
Oral Roberts University banged out 11 hits as the Golden Eagles
downed North Carolina A&T 6-3 in an NCAA Clemson Regonal
elimination game, Satrday at Kingsmore Stadium.
ORU
(41-19) next faces the loser of Saturday evening's Clemson-College
of Charleston match-up, Sunday at 3 p.m.
The
Golden Eagles got things going early, scoring a pair of runs in the
first for a 2-0 lead.
Ricky Rivera (Santa Isabel, P.R.) started the
scoring with a ground out that brought home Kelly
Minissale (Murphy, Texas) and Travis
DeBondt (Bakersfield, Calif.) plated Michael
Hollimon (Dallas, Texas) with a single two batters
later.
A
single, walk, and hit batsman loaded the bases for Minissale in the
fourth, who increased the ORU lead to 3-0 with an RBI
groundout. But that's all
the damage the Golden Eagles could muster as Aggie starter John
Primus got a pop out and ground out to end the inning.
A&T
finally got to McIntyre in the fourth when
Charlie Gamble sent the first pitch he saw over the right field
fence to cut the lead to 3-1. Gamble's shot marked only the second
time McIntyre has allowed a home run this season.
After
the Golden Eagles pushed across a run in the fifth, Dennis
Bigley (Lancaster, Texas) added a couple more insurance
scores in the home half of the sixth. His two-out double off the left field
fence plated Minassale and Rivera, making it 6-1 in favor of
ORU.
The
Aggies managed to add single runs in the sixth and eighth, finally
chasing McIntyre with a runner on third and two outs in the
eigth. Tim
Robertson (Hunington Beach, Calif.) relieved McIntyre and
induced a ground ball out to end the A&T threat.
McIntyre
piched 7.2 innings on the day, giving up three runs on six hits
while striking out eight.
Minissale, DeBondt,
Kevin Lamb
(Owasso, Okla.) and Brian Aguailar (Lompoc,
Calif.) each had two hits for the Golden Eagles.
Right-hander John
Primus (7-3) took the loss for the Aggies, allowing six runs on 10
hits in 7.2 innings.
ORU Regional Notes:
ORU is now 21-33 all-time in NCAA post-season play
�€¦ McIntyre is 2-0 in NCAA Regional play
�€¦ ORU left a season-high 16 runners on base and
batted just 4-for-20 with runners in scoring position
�€¦ Lamb stole a career-high three steals, part
of an ORU team season-high six stolen bases on the afternoon.
--ORU--
