Baseball 4/19/2008 12:00:00 AM

Baseball Sweeps Saturday's Doubleheader from Western Illinois, 11-3, 7-6

TULSA –- Oral Roberts University received a strong pitching performance from Carlos Luna in the first game and a walk-off solo home run by Kyle Price in the night cap as the Golden Eagles swept the twin bill with Western Illinois, 11-3, 7-6 on Saturday at J.L. Johnson Stadium.

ORU improved to 28-8 overall and 10-1 in league play with the wins while Western Illinois fell to 10-22 overall and 4-7 in The Summit League.

Game One
ORU jumped on the Leathernecks early with two runs in the bottom of the first on Brian Van Kirk's two-run home run.

The Golden Eagles tacked on two more runs in the second frame to extend their lead to 4-0. Adam Younger started the scoring by bringing in Pat Murray with an RBI double down the left field line. Brendan Duffy followed with a double in the gap in left center to score Younger.

ORU extended their lead to 8-0 in the bottom of the third. Murray tabbed an RBI down the left field line then Kelly Minissale cleared the bases with a three-run double down the line in left.

WIU tabbed a run in the fourth to get on the scoreboard, but the Golden Eagles got that run back in the bottom of the sixth.

In his first collegiate start as a Golden Eagle, Luna (8-0) established a new career-high with 12 strikeouts in a complete game effort. The right-hander allowed four hits on three runs – one earned – while just walking one.

Eric Eden (2-5) took the loss for the Leathernecks by allowing four earned runs on seven hits in two innings of work. Justin Eissens finished the game for WIU with six innings pitched, allowing 10 hits and seven runs.

Minissale and Juan Martinez led the ORU offensive attack with three RBI each while six different Golden Eagles had multi-hit performances.

Game Two
In game two, both teams were scoreless through the first three innings until ORU broke that mark with a run in the bottom of the fourth.

Ryan Groth led off the fourth with a single to center field and later advanced to third on sacrifice bunt by David Genao and a Travis Tolsma wild pitch. Groth was plated on a single to right field by Michael Notaro.

Western Illinois threatened in the top of the fifth when Tyler Metcalf led off the frame with a double down the left field line off Jerry Sullivan. However, Sullivan was able to keep his shutout bid alive by striking out two and forcing a ground out.

ORU tapped four runs in the bottom of the fifth for a 5-0 lead. Ben Petralli plated the first run of the frame with an RBI double, Notaro hit a RBI sacrifice fly and Martinez doubled in a run.

Petralli singled in Duffy in the sixth as ORU took a commanding 6-0 advantage.

Western Illinois would not go quietly however by rallying in the top of the seventh off Sullivan and reliever T.J. Kelly (1-1). The Leathernecks posted six runs on the board to extend the game.

Price delivered the knock out punch in the bottom of the seventh with a game-winning solo home run off WIU reliever Chris Fuchs (0-2).

Sullivan allowed seven hits and three run in 6-plus innings of work.

With a combined 4-for-9 performance, Petralli extended his hitting streak to 14 games.

The two teams conclude their four-game series on Sunday with a 1 p.m. first pitch.

--ORU--

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Players Mentioned

#25 Ryan Groth: OF; 6' 2"; Junior

#26 Carlos Luna: RHP; 5' 11"; Senior

#5 Juan Martinez: INF; 5' 10"; Junior

#31 Michael Notaro: INF; 6' 3"; Junior

#11 Kyle Price: INF; 6' 1"; Junior

#15 Jerry Sullivan: RHP; 6' 4"; Sophomore; Mt. Olive

#24 Brian Van Kirk: C/OF; 6' 1"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#25 Ryan Groth
: 6' 2"; Junior
: OF

#26 Carlos Luna
: 5' 11"; Senior
: RHP

#5 Juan Martinez
: 5' 10"; Junior
: INF

#31 Michael Notaro
: 6' 3"; Junior
: INF

#11 Kyle Price
: 6' 1"; Junior
: INF

#15 Jerry Sullivan
: 6' 4"; Sophomore; Mt. Olive
: RHP

#24 Brian Van Kirk
: 6' 1"; Senior
: C/OF