TULSA –- Texas' Russ Moldenhauer hit an infield single with
the bases loaded in the 10th inning to plate the game-winner as No.
12 UT defeated Oral Roberts University, 5-4, in front of 5,375 fans
at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Monday night.
Despite recording five errors, the Longhorns improved to 17-6 with
the win, while ORU dropped to 13-6 on the year.
Texas loaded the bases in the 10th off reliever T.J.
Kelly (0-1). Kelly allowed consecutive singles to Preston Clark
and Jordan Danks and then intentionally walked Kyle Russell to load
the bases. Moldenhauer proceeded to hit a slow dribbler to Kelly,
but Kelly could not get the throw off as Moldenhauer won the game
with an infield single.
Texas jumped out to a quick lead in their first at-bat on a Jordan
Danks three-run home run off starter Andre
Lamontagne. Lamontagne allowed a lead-off double by Michael
Torres and walked Travis Tucker before Danks cleared the bases with
a long ball over the fence in left center.
The Golden Eagles got on the score board in the third inning by
manufacturing a run to trim UT's lead to 3-1. Brendan
Duffy reached on a fielder's choice then advanced to second on
a throwing error by Texas's David Hernandez. Duffy then stole third
base and was plated on a groundout by Kelly
Minissale.
Texas loaded the bases in the bottom of the sixth, but Carlos
Luna came in relief of Jameson
Dunn and got ORU out of the jam. Luna forced Russell into a
fielder's choice as ORU escaped with out any damage done.
ORU came all the way back and snagged the lead in the top of the
seventh, taking a 4-3 advantage. With David
Genao on second and
Kyle Price on first, Juan
Martinez laid down a bunt which was played by UT's pitcher
Stayton Thomas. Thomas's throw got Genao out at third, but UT's
third basemen throw to first went wide and caromed off the wall.
The ball was then mishandled by UT's second base men allowing Price
and Martinez to race around the bases to tie the game. Duffy scored
his second run of the night to give the Golden Eagles the lead on a
Brian Van Kirk single up the middle.
ORU's lead was short lived though as UT's Kevin Keyes belted his
second home run of the year off Luna in the bottom half of the
seventh to knot the score at 4-all.
Lamontagne settled down after the first inning and finished the
night allowing three runs on three hits and two strikeouts in three
innings.
ORU fell to 3-4 on road games and lost their first extra-inning
game of the year.
Texas' Brandon Belt was credited with the winning decision to
improve to 1-0.
ORU returns to J.L. Johnson Stadium to host BYU in a three-game
series starting on Thursday at 3 p.m.
--ORU--
