TULSA--
Mark Serrano tossed a complete game shutout and
Oral Roberts University belted five home runs as the Golden Eagles
defeated Oakland 11-0, Sunday at J.L. Johnson Stadium. The win gave
ORU a sweep of the four-game Summit League series.
Serrano (3-1) allowed just three hits and struck out a career-high
nine batters while walking one as ORU improved to 38-12 overall and
20-4 in Summit League play. Oakland dropped to 14-26 and 6-11.
The Golden Eagles wasted no time getting on the board, scoring six
runs and blasting three home runs in the bottom of the first. After
a lead-off double by
Brendan Duffy and a one-out walk to Ben
Petralli,
Brian Van Kirk belted his league-leading 13th
home run, putting ORU up 3-0.
David Genao followed Van Kirk with a walk and
scored on a homer by
Juan Martinez to make it 5-0. Ryan
Groth followed Martinez with the first of his two solo home
runs for a 6-0 lead.
Genao led off the third with a solo homer to make it 7-0. An RBI
single by Van Kirk in the fourth made it 8-0, and Groth ripped his
second home run of the game in the fifth for a 9-0 lead.
ORU scored its final runs in the seventh on a wild pitch, and an
RBI single by Genao.
While ORU's offense was battering the Golden Grizzlies' pitching,
Serrano was easing through Oakland's line-up. The junior righty
retired the game's first nine batters and didn't allow a hit until
two outs in the fifth. Serrano retired the game's last eight
batters.
Andrew Estes (2-4) took the loss for Oakland.
Duffy, Van Kirk and Genao each had three hits for ORU, while Van
Kirk knocked in four runs. Genao, Martinez and Groth had two RBI
each.
The Golden Eagles return to action when they visit Wichita State, 7
p.m., Tuesday.
--ORU--
