TULSA, Okla. -- Chad Rothford, Marcus Tackett, and Adam Younger all hit home runs as part of an 11-hit attack as No. 29 Oral Roberts University opened the 2007 season with a 14-5 win over Missouri Southern, Saturday at J.L. Johnson Stadium.



The Golden Eagles opened the scoring in the bottom of the second, getting run-scoring singles by Tackett and Brendan Duffy, while another run scored on an error for a 3-0 lead.



ORU broke it open with a 10-run fourth. Younger connected for a grand slam just inside the left-field foul pole. Rothord connected four batters later on a two-run shot to make it 9-0. An RBI single by Pat Warfle put ORU on top 10-0, and Tackett blasted a three-run homer to left field for a 13-0 lead.



ORU starting pitcher Chris Ashman (1-0) shutout the Lions through his first five innings of work before faltering in the sixth, allowing four runs on six hits in the frame as Missouri Southern closed to within 13-4. Overall, Ashman allowed seven hits and struck out six with one walk.



Duffy drove in ORUs final run with a sacrifice fly for a 14-4 lead in the sixth. Missouri Southern added its final run in the top of the seventh.



The bottom third of ORUs batting order did the bulk of the damage. Warfle, Tackett and Younger the Eagles 7-8-9 batters combined to go 8-for-13 with nine RBI. Highly-regarded freshman right-hander Jerry Sullivan was impressive in his debut, striking out four batters in two shutout innings of work.



The Golden Eagles conclude their two-game series with the Lions, 1 p.m., Sunday.



--ORU--