SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Ben
Petralli's two-run single, with two outs and the bases loaded
in the seventh, helped No. 40 Oral Roberts University overcome an
early 5-1 deficit to Texas Tech, beating the Red Raiders 7-6 on
Sunday afternoon at Wolff Stadium
With the win, ORU won all four games at the UTSA Baseball Classic
to improve to 4-0, while Texas Tech fell to 1-2.
All three ORU runs in the seventh came with two outs. Tech
reliever James Leverton (0-1) gave up an infield single to Kyle
Price, a double down the left field line by Juan
Martinez and walked
Brendan Duffy to load the bases before
being relieved by Zach Stewart.
Stewart walked
Adam Younger with the bases loaded, scoring Price
to make it a 6-5 game. Then Ben
Petralli hit what turned out to be the game-winning single
through the left side, scoring Martinez and Duffy for a 7-6
lead.
Dale Reneau (1-0), who came in for starter Kelly
Minissale in the fifth, did not allow a run in five innings to
earn the win.
The Golden Eagles scored a run in the first inning for the third
time this weekend when Texas Tech's starter Nate Karns struggled
with his command early. Karns gave up a two-out single to Younger
and then walked
Brian Van Kirk, Ryan
Groth and Mike Notaro. Notaro's bases-loaded walk plated
Younger for the game's first run.
After two errors by the Golden Eagle defense in the second frame,
the Red Raiders were able to push two runs across the board to take
a 2-1 lead.
Tech scored two more runs in the third off Minissale when Chris
Richburg hit a two-run home run over the center field fence. Tech
stretched their lead to 5-1 after Monk Kreder's line drive to
center got past the diving attempt of Duffy as Jason Seefeld raced
around from first to score.
A Petralli double that hit off the wall down the left field line,
knocked in Younger as the Golden Eagles cut the Red Raider
advantage to 5-2 in the home side of the third.
The Golden Eagles scratched out another run in the bottom of the
fourth, cutting Tech's lead to 5-3. With Price on third, Younger
stuck out swinging off a Karns pitch in the dirt, but Karns pitch
got past Tech's catcher allowing Price to score and Younger to
reach base.
Roger Kieschnick's first-pitch home run to right field in the fifth
inning gave increased the Red Raider lead to 6-3.
Tech's Karns was relieved to begin the fifth by Paul Gonzalez who
walked Groth and then allowed an infield single by David
Genao. Groth was plated for ORU's fourth run of the day on an
RBI single by Price.
ORU threatened again in the sixth with runners on the corners, but
a two-out groundout by Groth ended the Golden Eagles threat.
Minissale, getting his first start since a three inning appearance
against Penn State on March 17, 2007, set a new career-high with
four plus innings of work. In his career, the senior made only his
third appearance on the mound.
Reneau finished with four strikeouts in five innings in his second
appearance of the year.
Petralli led the team with three RBI, while Younger, Price and
Petralli each recorded two hits.
The Golden Eagles return home on Monday to begin to prepare for
their home opener against LeMoyne. First game against the Dolphins
at J.L. Johnson Stadium is slated to begin on Friday, Feb. 29 at 3
p.m.
--ORU--
