TULSA�€"Four Oral Roberts University errors led to
four unearned runs for the University of San Francisco as the Dons
defeated the Golden Eagles 5-1, completing the series sweep Sunday
at J.L. Johnson Stadium.
The loss, ORU's record
seventh straight, drops the Golden Eagles to 10-11 overall. San
Francisco improves to 16-12.
San Francisco broke
open a scoreless game in the top of the third. Lucas DeLong led off
with a home run off ORU starter Daniel Greenwalt (0-2),
staking the Dons to a 1-0 lead. With two outs and Andrew Smith on
second, Stefan Gartrell singled to deep shortstop, where the ball
got away from Tim
Torres, allowing Smith to score from third for a 2-0
lead.
ORU tied it up with a
pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth. Brendan Duffy and Kelly Minissale led
off with singles and advanced 90 feet on a ground out by Jake Kahaulelio.
Torres's slow roller to second base was thrown away, allowing both
Duffy and Minissale to score, tying the game at 2-2.
Poor defense victimized
ORU again in the top of the seventh. Joey Railey led off with a
double, and came around to score when Andrew Smith's sacrifice bunt
attempt was thrown away by Greenwalt. Taylor McIntyre relieved
Greenwalt and plunked Scott Cousins, putting runners on the corners
with no outs.
Sean Jarrett relieved
McIntyre and struck out Gartrell for the first out. Jarrett
appeared to be on his way out of the jam when catcher Andy Bouchie threw
out Cousins trying to steal second. But Luke Sommer's double inside
the bag at first base scored Smith for a 4-2 lead.
Pat Warfle connected for a
solo home run in the bottom of the seventh to put ORU within
4-3.
But USF tacked on
another unearned run in the top of the ninth for the final
margin.
ORU mustered just five
hits against three different Dons pitchers. Patrick McGuigan (6-1)
picked up the win, allowing three runs on five hits in seven
innings. John Quine tossed 1.2 perfect innings in relief for his
third save.
Greenwalt was solid in
his second start of the season, allowing four runs (one earned) on
eight hits in 6-plus innings. He struck out four and walked just
one.
Duffy had a pair of
hits to lead ORU at the plate.
The Golden Eagles
return to action when they host Texas-Arlington, 5:00 p.m., Tuesday
at J.L. Johnson Stadium.
--ORU--
