TULSA –- Oral Roberts University pounded out a combined 37
hits and went on to sweep the twin bill with North Dakota State,
20-2, 13-0, Saturday afternoon at J.L. Johnson Stadium.
With the wins, ORU improved to 19-7 overall and 3-0 in Summit
League play. The Golden Eagles moved their home record to 13-1 on
the year while NDSU fell to 6-14 overall and 0-3 in league
play.
Game One
For the second game in a row against the Bison, ORU trailed early
when NDSU scored two runs in the top of the third. The Bison plated
their first run in the second on an RBI single to center field and
then a home run from Kole Zimmerman that lead off the third frame
gave the visitors the early advantage.
ORU did not back down though as the Golden Eagles scored three runs
in the bottom of the third for a 3-2 lead. Kelly
Minissale plated a run with an RBI double to left center off
NDSU's starter Matt Bowar (0-4) and Brian Van
Kirk added a run-scoring single in the frame.
The Golden Eagles scored single runs in the fourth and the fifth,
but did the most damage in the bottom of the seventh by pounding
the Bison with nine runs.
ORU sent 14 batters to the plate, recorded nine hits and walked
three times in the seventh. Ben
Petralli,
Johnny Roberts, Juan
Martinez,
Brendan Duffy, Minissale, Van Kirk and Ryan
Groth all produced RBI in the inning.
The Golden Eagles added four runs in the seventh and two in the
eighth to take a 20-2 lead over the Bison.
Andre Lamontagne (1-1) was solid in the start,
allowing two runs on six hits in six innings to claim his first win
as a Golden Eagle.
In all, the Golden Eagles had six different players record
multi-RBI performances and had 11 different players produce a
hit.
Bowar went 4.1 innings, allowing five runs – three earned
– and seven hits in the loss for NDSU.
Game Two
In the second game of the double-header, the Golden Eagles grabbed
an early lead in the second frame, posting seven runs for a 7-0
lead. Van Kirk got things going for ORU by tagging NDSU's starter
Shannon Ekermans (1-2) with an opposite field solo home run - his
team-leading fifth of the year - for ORU's first run.
David Genao followed Van Kirk with a double off
the right field wall and was plated on a Pat
Murray RBI single. Minissale then added a two-run single and
Petralli belted a three-run home run to left center as the Golden
Eagles took a 7-0 lead.
North Dakota State loaded the bases in the fourth with no outs,
but ORU starter
Michael Jarman (5-1) struck out Eric Nutzhorn and
forced Mike Germain to ground out into a double play to end the
Bison threat.
The Golden Eagles tallied six more runs in the bottom of the sixth
to take a 13-0 advantage. Kyle
Price led off the inning with a single, followed by a Martinez
double. Duffy loaded the bases after getting hit by a Kenny Beese
pitch then Minissale brought in Price and Martinez with a single
down the right field line. Petralli then hit a line drive down the
left field line for a double that scored Duffy and Justin
Mitchell, who pitch-ran for Minissale.
Van Kirk knocked in two more runs with his second home run of the
game, this time to left field for a 13-0 ORU lead.
Jarman completed his first career complete game shutout by only
allowing four hits and three walks while striking out a season-high
eight batters.
Petralli went 2-for-5 with five RBI, Minissale went 3-for-4 with
four RBI and Van Kirk knocked in three runs with a 2-for-4
performance.
The two teams conclude their series tomorrow with the first pitch
slated to begin at 1 p.m. at J.L. Johnson Stadium.
--ORU--
