LINCOLN, Neb. -- Oral Roberts University trailed No. 9 UC-Irvine
6-0 after the first inning, but mounted a rally that just fell
short as the Anteaters defeated No. 25 ORU, 9-7, in the first round
of the Lincoln Regional, Friday night at Hawks Field.
ORU falls to 46-13 on the year with the loss and will now face
Eastern Illinois in the elimination game tomorrow at 1:05 p.m.
UC-Irvine improved to 39-16 overall and will face host Nebraska
tomorrow night.
The Anteaters took advantage of two walks, two hit batsmen and
four singles in the first inning to grab the early 6-0 lead. In
doing so, UC-Irvine chased starter Michael
Jarman (11-3) out of the game after seven of the first eight
batters were able to reach safely.
However, ORU started to chip away at the Anteaters lead in the top
of the second on a two-run home run by David
Genao to deep center. Genao's 10th home run of the season
plated
Ryan Groth, who led off the inning with a
double.
UC-Irvine added single runs in the second and third to stretch
their lead to 8-2.
ORU got on the board again in the fifth when Ben
Petralli hit an RBI two-out single up the middle, scoring Brendan
Duffy as ORU trailed 8-3.
The momentum continued for the Golden Eagles in the sixth inning
when ORU plated three runs while forcing UC-Irvine starter Scott
Gorgen (11-3) out of the game in the process. Michael
Notaro collected an RBI single and Adam
Younger plated two Golden Eagles on a center in the gap in
right center.
Brian Van Kirk showed his power in the seventh by
slugging his team-leading 18th home run of the year over the left
field fence off UC-Irvine reliever Christian Bergman. The home run
brought the Golden Eagles within one, 8-7.
UC-Irvine was able to add an insurance run in the bottom of the
eighth when a Casey Stevenson reached on a single despite a valiant
diving effort by second basemen Juan
Martinez. Stevenson's single scored Ben Orloff to make it
9-7.
The Golden Eagles threatened in the top of the ninth off
UC-Irvine's closer Eric Pettis. Kelly
Minissale belted a double over the Anteaters' centerfielder
then back-to-back walks by Petralli and Van Kirk loaded the bases
for ORU with only one out. Pettis was then able to strike out Groth
and force Genao to hit into a fielder's choice to end the ORU
threat and the game.
Genao went 3-for-5 with two runs scored and two RBI while Younger
added two RBI to lead the ORU offense.
Pettis collected his 16th save of the season by throwing 1.2
innings of scoreless relief.
Jarman lasted just 0.1 innings, allowing six runs on three hits and
two walks in his first losing decision since April 24th.
ORU tagged Gorgen with six earned runs and nine hits in five
innings of work.
Game Notes:
With their 11th straight NCAA Regional appearance the Golden
Eagles have the fifth best active streak in Division I baseball ...
ORU only trails Miami (36), Florida State (31), Cal St. Fullerton
(16) and Rice (13).
--ORU--
