First Pitch

The Golden Eagles travel to Berkeley, Calif. on Wednesday for a three-game set against Pac 10 opponent California starting Thursday. After a rough start, ORU has turned things around and has won six of the previous seven games including a current three game winning streak. The series opens on Thursday at 4 p.m. CDT with the second game on Friday at 4 p.m. CDT and wrapping up on Saturday at 3 p.m. CDT.



The Coaches

Rob Walton is in his fourth season as ORU head coach, with a record of 143-56 (.719). Not only was Walton the 2006 Mid-Con Coach of the Year for the second time in three seasons, he also was awarded the 2006 ABCA Mid-West Region Coach of the Year. Cal is coached by David Esquer. Esquer is in his eighth season at the helm of the Golden Bears. Esquer has guided Cal to a 213-201 (.514) overall record including a 12-12 mark this season.



The Series: ORU vs. California

ORU and California meet for the first time since a three-game set in Tulsa on March 2-3, 1986. The Golden Bears ended up getting the best of the then ORU Titans winning all three games. Overall, ORU is 3-3 against Cal.



ORU Notes

The Golden Eagles have turned it up a notch since dropping three straight at Texas on March 2-4. ORU has won six-of-seven, only dropping to No. 9 Arkansas in mid-week action. Offensively, the Golden Eagles are batting .249 with Jake Kahaulelio leading the charge individually with a .324 average. Carter McQuigg and Chad Rothford lead the squad with five home runs each. Brian Van Kirk has knocked in a team-high 18 runs while Kahaulelio leads with five doubles. Defensively, ORU�€™s pitching staff has a 4.57 ERA including a 3.52 staff ERA the last seven games. Chance Chapman has been quite a relief out of the bullpen so far, making 10 appearances with a 2-0 record and 0.75 ERA. Jeremy Hefner has been ORU�€™s most consisent starter so far, recording a 3-0 record with a 3.57 ERA and 27 strikeouts.



California Notes

California is 12-12 and is coming off a series win against Rhode Island this past weekend. Seven different Golden Bears are batting at least .309. David Cooper is second on the team with a .380 batting average and possesses power with a team-high seven home runs, 31 RBI, and a .685 slugging percentage. Josh Satin leads the team with eight doubles and is second with 20 runs batted in. As a team, the Golden Bears are batting .299. Tyson Ross leads the squad with a 2.13 ERA despite a 2-3 record. The sophomore was named to the Wallace Award Watch List in the preseason and has struck out 47 batters in 50.2 innings of work. Cal has a 4.27 staff ERA. Reliever Matt Gorgen (2.53 ERA) has picked up four saves in 13 appearances.

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