HOUSTON –
Kyle Price broke a 3-3 tie in the top of the
ninth with an RBI double to give ORU the go-ahead run in a 5-3
victory over No. 7 Rice on Sunday at the Academy Sports + Outdoors
Rice Classic at Reckling Park. The Golden Eagles improved to 7-2
overall, while the Owls dropped to 8-4 on the season.
ORU defeated its highest ranked opponent since defeating No. 7
Arkansas on March 27, 2007.
Michael Notaro led off the ninth with a double
down the right field line off of Rice reliever Jordan Rogers. Colby
Price (Brenham, Texas) bunted pinch runner Nikko
Wong over to second, and Wong then advanced to third on a wild
pitch.
Price followed with a double to plate Wong and then advanced to
third on an error.
Danny Duffy (Glendale, Ariz.) then belted a
double to the gap in left center to give ORU a two-run lead. The
double was Duffy's fourth of the season and his second hit of the
game, which led all Golden Eagles.
The Golden Eagles jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the top of the
first. After
Tyler Garewal (Bakersfield, Calif.) reached first
on an error,
Juan Martinez (Bakersfield, Calif.) sacrificed
the runner to second.
Seth Furmanek (Gilbert, Ariz.) followed with a
single up the middle to plate Garewal, and
P.J. Sequeira stretched
the margin to two runs with a double to the gap in right
center.
The Owls countered in the home-half of the first with a run. After
a leadoff walk, Chad Mozingo and Diego Seastrunk hit consecutive
singles to score Jimmy Comerota. Andre
Lamontagne (Santa Maria, Calif.) escaped further damage after
forcing a pop-up and a double play.
The Golden Eagles struck again in the top of the sixth. Garewal led
off with a double down the left field line and Martinez followed
with a bunt for a base hit to advance the runner to third with no
outs. Furmanek hit a sacrifice fly to right field in the next
at-bat for his second RBI of the game and 10th on the season to
give ORU the 3-1 lead.
Rice scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh to tie the
contest. Steven Sultzbaugh drew a one-out walk as Mark
Serrano (Downey, Calif.) came in to relieve Lamontagne. Pinch
hitter Craig Manuel followed with a base hit to advance the runner
to third. One batter later, Jimmy Comerota hit a dribbler to the
pitcher to score Sultzbaugh and bring the game back to a one-run
margin. Mozingo then legged out an infield hit to plate the tying
run.
Serrano (4-0) picked up the win after surrendering one run and two
hits in 2.2 innings pitched with three strikeouts.
Lamontagne logged 6.1 innings on Sunday, only allowing three hits
and two runs with four strikeouts.
The Golden Eagles return to action for a three-game series at
Dallas Baptist beginning on Thursday.
- ORU -
