TULSA --
Jerry Sullivan (2-0) struck out a career-high 12
batters and Brian Van Kirk went 4-for-4 with an RBI as Oral
Roberts University defeated Le Moyne, 10-3, Friday afternoon at
J.L. Johnson Stadium.
With the
win, the Golden Eagles improved to 5-0 for the first time since
1994 while the Dolphins fell to 2-3.
Le Moyne
jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top half of the second inning when
Matt Nandin singled to right field, scoring Corey O'Neill for the
game's first score.
The home
team rallied in the bottom of the second to tie the score at 1-all.
The Golden Eagles pushed across the run when David
Genao's line drive shot to the left fielder was dropped
allowing Ryan Groth to score from third.
ORU took the
lead for good in the next inning by scoring three runs to capture a
4-1 lead. Ben Petralli, Adam
Younger and Genao all had RBI in the third frame.
The Dolphins
were able to cut into the Golden Eagle lead in the fourth on
back-to-back doubles by Phil St. Amant and Matt Nandin.
Groth scored
on an Eric Beaulac (0-1) wild pitch and a run-scoring single by Juan
Martinez extended the Golden Eagles lead to 6-2 after five
innings.
ORU scored a
pair of runs in the sixth inning for an 8-2 advantage. Groth hit a
ground-rule double down the right field line to score Brendan
Duffy and Brian Van Kirk followed Groth's double with a RBI
single to center field.
Le Moyne was
able to load the bases off Sullivan in the seventh, but was only
able to score one run off the right-handed hurler when Stephen
Crawford walked with bases full.
Younger
added some more insurance for the Golden Eagles in the bottom of
the eighth on a two-run double to the gap in right center. Petralli
and pitch-runner Justin Mitchell scored all the way from first on
the Younger double as ORU grabbed a 10-3 lead.
Groth
finished the day 2-for-4 with four runs scored and Younger had
three RBI for the Golden Eagles.
Sullivan
lasted eight innings, scattering six hits and allowing only two
earned runs. Newcomer T.J. Kelly saw his first action of the
season by relieving Sullivan before the ninth. Kelly forced a
pop-up and struck out two batters swinging.
ORU and Le
Moyne play the middle game of the three-game series tomorrow at 2
p.m. Live stats and free video streaming will be available on
www.ORUGoldenEagles.com.
--ORU--
