TULSA –-
Brendan Duffy belted a three-run home run in the
bottom of the fourth and Oral Roberts University held on for a 7-6
victory over North Dakota State in Summit League action, Sunday
afternoon at J.L. Johnson Stadium.
With the win, the Golden Eagles completed the four-game sweep of
the Bison and improved to 20-7 overall and 4-0 in league play. NDSU
dropped to 6-15 overall and 0-4 in The Summit League with the
loss.
The Golden Eagles jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first
inning. Duffy led off the inning with a double in the gap in left
center.
Kelly Minissale brought around Duffy for the
games first run with an RBI single. Ben
Petralli - who has been swinging a hot bat all weekend -
knocked in Minissale for ORU's second run with a double to right
center off NDSU's starter Ben Mathiason (2-4).
North Dakota State rallied though, scoring a run in the second to
cut the lead in half on a RBI double by Eric Nutzhorn.
The Bison continued the rally in the third by eventually taking a
one-run lead with three runs in the frame. NDSU took advantage of a
defensive miscue by first baseman Michael
Notaro and got RBI hits by Kyle Harrison, Ryan Langlais and
Nutzhorn. All three runs in the inning were unearned off ORU
starter Minissale.
The Golden Eagles knotted the game at 4-all in their next at-bat.
Duffy got the offense going again with a lead-off single and later
advanced to second on a balk by Mathiason. Petralli belted his
second double of the day to score Duffy from second then Brian Van
Kirk followed by scoring Petralli with a single up the
middle.
Duffy delivered the eventual game-winning three-run home run in
the fourth inning. Duffy's first home run of the season came at the
right time, scoring
Kyle Price and Notaro as ORU grabbed a 7-4
lead.
That was all the Golden Eagles needed as the Bison managed only
two more runs on two solo home runs by Harrison off reliever Carlos
Luna (6-0).
Luna allowed two earned runs on four hits in 3.1 innings of relief
in earning the win.
T.J. Kelly worked the final 2.2 innings in relief
to earn his team-leading sixth save of the year.
Duffy finished the day with a 3-for-4 effort with three RBI and
three runs. Petralli also went 3-for-4 with two RBI and a run
scored for the Golden Eagles.
Minissale finished the day with five hits allowed, giving up four
runs – one earned – in three innings.
ORU resumes action on Tuesday, traveling to Fayetteville to play
regional power Arkansas at 6:35 p.m.
--ORU--
