SHREVEPORT, La. --
David Genao hit a single through the right
side of the infield to plate Ben
Petralli for the game-winning run as Oral Roberts University
defeated Centenary, 10-9, in 16 innings, Friday night at Shehee
Stadium.
With the win, ORU won their sixth game in a row and improved to
22-7 overall and 5-0 in league play while Centenary fell to 17-11
and 0-5 in The Summit League.
Centenary reliever Joe Hagen (0-2) walked Petralli to begin the
16th, and then a Hagen wild pitch advanced Petralli to second.
After
Brian Van Kirk struck out, Genao hit a single
through the right side of the infield to score Petralli all the way
from second for the winning run.
Carlos Luna improved to 7-0 with an excellent
performance out of the bullpen. The right-hander only allowed two
hits and at one time retired 11 straight Gents. Luna walked none
and struck out six.
The Golden Eagles jumped on the board in the top of the second
inning, taking a 1-0 lead. Pat
Murray roped a stand-up double down the left field line then
scored when Groth belted the first pitch from Dakota Robinson into
right center for a triple.
Centenary managed to tie the game at 1-all in their next at-bat.
Ryan Bernsen led off the inning with a single through the right
side. Alex Maldonado then laid down a sacrifice bunt that was
fielded by
Jerry Sullivan. Sullivan's throw to second to get
Bernsen was wild allowing Bernsen to advance to third. The error
cost Sullivan as Ricky Imperiali knocked in Bernsen with a
sacrifice fly.
The Gents took the lead in the bottom of the third by pushing
across two runs for a 3-1 advantage. For the third straight inning,
CC's lead-off hitter reached base when Jomar Tabor was hit by a
Sullivan pitch. Tabor was plated for the Gents second run when
Cameron Penny hit a triple to center field that got past Minissale.
Penny was then plated on a sacrifice fly.
ORU rallied in the top of the sixth, trimming Centenary's lead to
4-3.
Brendan Duffy, who already had a hit in the game
to extend his hitting streak to 13, led off the inning with a
single. Minissale then reached on an error by the second baseman,
allowing Duffy to advance to third. Petralli hit a double over CC's
centerfielder to plate Duffy as ORU trailed 4-2. Minissale then
scored when Genao hit a sacrifice fly to left field.
The Golden Eagles came all the way to back to tie the game in the
seventh frame at 4-all. Groth hit his second extra-base hit of the
game with a double off the wall in center field to lead off the
inning. Centenary's Aaron Bronson relieved Robinson and allowed a
double by Martinez as Groth scored to tie the score.
Centenary regained their lead in the bottom of the seventh when
Teddy Saenz singled through the right side, scoring Steele Lewis to
make it a 5-4 game.
With the Golden Eagles trailing 5-4 entering the top of the ninth,
the Golden Eagles scored four runs to take a commanding 9-5 lead.
Juan Martinez singled in Ryan
Groth for the first run then Kelly
Minissale hit a bloop single over the outstretched shortstop,
giving ORU the 6-5 lead. The Golden Eagles got a two-run double
from Petralli and a sacrifice fly from Genao extended the lead to
9-5.
However, the Gents amassed a huge rally in the bottom of the ninth
off reliever
T.J. Kelly as Centenary posted four runs to send
the game into extra innings.
Kelly returned to form in the next inning as he retired three
Centenary's batters in order.
Robinson allowed four earned runs while giving up seven hits in
six innings of work in the start for the Gents.
Sullivan went eight solid innings, allowing seven hits, five runs
(three earned), while striking out five.
Groth went 3-for-6 with three extra-base hits, two runs and one RBI
for the Golden Eagles. Petralli and Genao paced the offense with
three RBI each while Martinez knocked in two runs.
ORU and Centenary resume their four-game series with a twin bill
tomorrow. First pitch for the first game will be at 12 p.m. with
live stats and audio available at www.ORUGoldenEagles.com
--ORU--
