SPRINGFIELD,
Mo. – Missouri State broke a 6-6 tie with a two-run seventh
inning and went on to defeat No. 30 Oral Roberts University, 9-6,
in non-conference action on Tuesday night at Hammons Field.
The loss snapped ORU's five-game winning streak, dropping the
Golden Eagles to a 29-9 overall mark while Missouri State improved
to 26-13.
Missouri State's Aaron Conway led off the inning with a single off
ORU starter Kelly Minissale (1-2). Conway advanced all the
way to third after a bunt single by Ben Woodbury then stole home
for the Bears first run. Ben Carlson doubled in Woodbury as MSU led
2-0 early.
ORU plated a run in the top of the fourth to slice Missouri State's
lead to 2-1. Pat Murray laced a double down the left field
line that scored Ryan Groth from second.
The Golden Eagles tied the game at 2-all in the fifth inning on a
RBI double down the right field line by Ben
Petralli. Petralli's 13th double of the season scored Minissale
from second base.
Groth powered his sixth home run of the year to lead off the sixth
inning and give ORU their first lead of the game at 3-2.
After three consecutive scoreless innings of work by Minissale, the
Bears scored four two-out runs in the bottom of the sixth. Kyle
Paul collected a two-run double to left field then Josh Mazzola
delivered a two-run home run down the left field line for a 6-3 MSU
advantage.
However, ORU stormed right back in their next at-bat to tie game
at 6-6. Adam Younger, Brendan
Duffy and Minissale each singled to lead off the inning with
Minissale's hit plating Younger. Petralli followed with a walk to
load the bases for Brian Van Kirk. Van Kirk proceeded to score
Duffy on a RBI groundout then Groth plated Minissale with a
sacrifice fly.
Missouri State threatened to break the tie in the bottom of the
seventh by placing runners on the corners with no outs. Lefthander
Jason Grace relieved Minissale and forced the
Bears' top hitter Ben Carlson to foul out for the first out. Andre
Lamontagne came in for Grace and forced MSU's Chris Playter to
ground out, but the ground out allowed Woodbury to score. Matt
Welch gave Missouri State an 8-6 advantage on an RBI single to left
field.
Missouri State added an insurance run for a 9-6 edge in the bottom
of the eighth off reliever Mark
Serrano.
ORU
had a chance to tie the game in the top of the ninth by loading the
bases off MSU's Matt Frevert. But, Frevert struck out pitch-hitter
Johnny Roberts to end the threat and the
game.
Younger went 3-for-4 with one run scored while Pat
Murray went 2-for-4 with an RBI and Groth had two RBI with a
3-for-4 effort.
Petralli was able to extend his hitting streak to 16 hits with a
1-for-3 performance.
The Golden Eagles travel to Cedar City, Utah on Wednesday for a
four-game series at Southern Utah starting on Thursday at 3 p.m.
central time.
--ORU--
