TULSA -- Oral Roberts University survived a possible upset in The
Summit League Championship by breaking a 9-all tie with six runs in
the top of the 10th to defeat the Leathernecks, 15-9, at J.L.
Johnson Stadium on Friday.
The Golden Eagles improved to 45-12 overall with the win while
Western Illinois dropped to 21-32. The Golden Eagles won their 11th
straight game and their 19th consecutive game at home.
ORU, playing just their second extra-inning game in league
tournament history, erased all thoughts of a possible upset with an
offensive outburst in the 10th frame. Kelly
Minissale collected the eventual game-winning RBI when the
senior drove in
Juan Martinez. The Golden Eagles then kept the
momentum going by exploding with five more runs. ORU got an RBI
double by
Ben Petralli, RBI single by Justin
Mitchell, a run-scoring single by Ryan
Groth, RBI groundout by Dave Genao and a RBI single by Adam
Younger.
T.J. Kelly (2-1) pitched the last 3.2 innings of
the game, scattering seven hits while just allowing one run to earn
the win.
WIU's Frank Zenisek (2-6) took the loss for the Leathernecks after
allowing six runs – three earned – in 1.2 innings.
Van Kirk led the Golden Eagles with three hits, four RBI and two
runs scored, while Genao hit a two-run homer and Duffy had three
hits and three runs scored.
For the second straight day, ORU opened with a 6-0 lead after the
first three innings. However, Western Illinois rallied by posting
two runs in each the fourth and the fifth to make it a 6-4
game.
ORU used a RBI sacrifice fly by Martinez in the sixth and a Michael
Notaro RBI single in the seventh to take a commanding 8-4
lead.
But, Western Illinois rallied again with four runs in the bottom
of the seventh to knot the game at 8-all. WIU's Drew Laidig and
Tyler Metcalf each recorded two RBI each in the frame for the
Leathernecks.
Carlos Luna started the game for ORU but lasted
just 4.1 innings, allowing 10 hits and four runs.
The Golden Eagles had 20 hits compared to Western Illinois' 21
while the Leathernecks collected five errors.
ORU plays the winner of Western Illinois and Southern Utah for The
Summit League Championship tomorrow at 1 p.m.
--ORU--
