TULSA –- Oral Roberts' baseball team scored a season-high 12
runs en route to defeat No. 9 Baylor, 12-2, sweeping the Bears in
the two-game mid-week series, Wednesday afternoon at J.L. Johnson
Stadium.
Unlike last night where the Golden Eagles (10-2) had to rally from
a six-run deficit, ORU scored six runs in the second inning and
never looked back in defeating BU (11-3) for the second straight
outing.
Stephen Barnes (1-0), making his first start in a
Golden Eagle uniform, scattered three hits in three innings to earn
the win.
After both teams went scoreless in the first inning, ORU jumped on
Baylor starter Wade Mackey (2-1), scoring six runs. After Ben
Petralli and
David Genao singled to begin the inning, Adam
Younger advanced the runners with a sacrifice bunt. Michael
Notaro then delivered a two-run double to left center to score
Petralli and Genao.
Brendan Duffy was able to bring Notaro on a
single through the left side of the infield. Designated hitter Brian
Van Kirk then hit a towering shot over the left center fence
for a three-run home run and a 6-0 ORU lead.
It was Van Kirk's first home run this season and ORU's first homer
on their home surface.
The Golden Eagles stretched their lead to 8-0 in their next at-bat
as Petralli and Genao again started the inning with consecutive
singles. Just like the third inning, Notaro brought the two home on
a single up the middle.
ORU was not done scoring though, as the Golden Eagles punched in
three more runs in the fourth frame for a 11-0 lead. Petralli,
Genao and
Juan Martinez all recorded RBI hits in the
inning.
The Bears were able to get on the scoreboard with a two-run
seventh, making it an 11-2 ball game.
Brendan Duffy scored on a wild pitch by Baylor's
Aaron Miller in the bottom of the seventh as ORU stretched their
lead to 10, 12-2.
Notaro finished with four RBI to lead the Golden Eagles while Van
Kirk went 1-3 with three RBI and two runs scored.
Nine different Golden Eagles recorded a hit while five ORU players
had multi-hit performances.
ORU used a season-high eight pitchers in the victory, while Baylor
used six hurlers.
With the win, the Golden Eagles improved to 3-0 on the year
against ranked teams and 7-0 against squads that made it to
regionals in 2007.
ORU returns to action this weekend with a trip out West to battle
Pepperdine in a three-game series. First pitch on Friday is at 5
p.m. (CDT). Live stats and audio streaming will be available on
www.ORUGoldenEagles.com. Free video streaming of the games will be
available on www.pepperdinesports.com.
--ORU--
