TULSA -- Oral Roberts University jumped on top 6-0 in the bottom of
the first and never looked back en route in defeating fourth-seeded
Centenary, 11-5, in the first round of The Summit League
Championship, Thursday night at J.L. Johnson Stadium.
With the win, the Golden Eagles improved to 44-12 overall, having
won 10 straight games and 18 consecutive on their home surface.
Centenary fell to 30-25 on the year.
Michael Jarman moved to 11-2 overall while
getting the start for the Golden Eagles. The lefthander struck out
seven while allowing five runs in 5.1 innings of work. Mark
Serrano relieved Jarman in the top of the sixth and pitched the
last 3.2 innings of scoreless relief to collect his second save
this season.
ORU's bats came out hot as the Golden Eagles exploded with six
runs in the bottom of the first to put the Gents in a 6-0 hole. Brian
Van Kirk started the scoring with an RBI single in the first
then
Ryan Groth collected an RBI double to get the
home team a quick 2-0 advantage. David
Genao and
Juan Martinez both added a pair of two-RBI hits
in the frame.
Brendan Duffy added an RBI single up the middle
in the bottom of the third to increase ORU's lead.
Centenary battled back, however, with a run in the fourth and four
runs in the seventh, trimming ORU's lead to 9-5 entering the bottom
of the seventh.
The Golden Eagles put the Gents away with a run in the seventh and
eighth for an 11-5 lead.
Michael Notaro went 1-for-4 with a two-run home
run – his ninth of the year – while Genao and Martinez
added two RBI each.
Ben Petralli also slugged a home run, a
solo shot in the eighth for his eighth of the year.
Centenary's Justin Kraft (9-5) allowed six runs – one earned
– in only one inning of work to take the loss for the
Gents.
ORU advances with the win and will play No. 3 seed Western
Illinois tomorrow at 3 p.m.
--ORU--
