BROOKINGS,
S.D. -- The Golden Eagles got strong pitching performances from all
three starters as Oral Roberts University won all three games
against South Dakota State in Summit League action, Saturday at Erv
Huether Field.
ORU improves to 34-10 on the season and 16-3 in The Summit League,
while South Dakota State falls to 19-22 overall and 6-6 in league
action.
Game One
The Golden Eagles received a stellar complete-game pitching
performance from Michael Jarman (8-2) as ORU jumped out to a 4-0
lead and never looked back to defeat the Jackrabbits, 6-3.
Jarman scattered eight hits while just allowing three runs in nine
innings. The left-hander struck out nine in collecting his
team-high fourth complete game of the season.
Offensively, the Golden Eagles were led by Ryan
Groth (2-for-4, 3 RBI), Ben
Petralli (4-for-5, 1 RBI) and Adam
Younger (2-for-5, 2 runs).
Groth started the scoring with a triple to the gap in right center
to score Juan Martinez in the second frame. ORU extended
their lead to 4-0 in their next at-bat after a solo home run by
Petralli and Groth's two-run home run.
South Dakota State finally got on the board by posting a single
run in the fifth inning but trailed 4-1.
The Golden Eagles added a pair of RBI sacrifice flies by Martinez
and Brian Van Kirk in the seventh and ninth,
respectively.
South Dakota State's Caleb Thielbar (4-3) allowed four runs in 4.1
innings in a losing effort.
Game Two
In the first game of the regularly scheduled double-header, the
Golden Eagles posted five runs in the fourth for a 5-0 lead and
starter Carlos Luna allowed only three runs in 7.1
innings.
Luna won his team-high 10th game to improve to 10-0 while striking
out nine.
Groth got things going for the Golden Eagles with an RBI single to
left field that plated David Genao. ORU proceeded to load the
bases, and then Justin Mitchell plated a run on a sacrifice fly
to right. Minissale added an RBI single and Younger punched in two
runs with a double to left field.
SDSU rallied, however, by scoring a run in the fifth and then two
in the seventh frame.
T.J. Kelly came in the ninth and collected his
eighth save by striking out two Jackrabbits and forcing a fly
out.
Game Three
Jerry Sullivan (6-2) allowed one run in a
five-inning complete-game effort as ORU won 12-1 in the shortened
game due to darkness.
Michael Notaro broke a 1-1 tie in the fourth with
a three-run home run over the center field fence. ORU went on to
score three more in the inning and four more in the fifth.
Van Kirk, Petralli and Kelly Minissale each recorded two RBI for
the Golden Eagles.
The Golden Eagles go for the four-game series sweep tomorrow over
SDSU with a single game at 12 p.m.
--ORU--
