TULSA---
Jerry Sullivan hurled eight strong innings to
lead Oral Roberts University to an 11-2 Summit League victory over
Centenary, Friday at J.L. Johnson Stadium.
In a battle of the league's top two teams, Sullivan was the
difference. The junior right-hander, who struck out 16 batters in
his previous start against South Dakota State, whiffed nine against
the Gents (23-7, 6-2 Summit). He scattered eight hits and walked
three in improving to 5-3.
Centenary took an early 1-0 lead on an RBI single by Michael
Tompkins in the first inning. ORU (18-9, 8-0 Summit) tied the game
on an RBI single by
Colby Price in the second, and the Golden
Eagles grabbed a 3-1 lead in the third on an RBI single by Seth
Furmanek and a
Michael Notaro sacrifice fly.
The Gents cut the lead down to 3-2 in the sixth when Travis
Leverson singled with one out, stole second and third, and scored
on a two-out wild pitch. ORU pushed the lead to 5-2 in the bottom
of the seventh on RBI singles by P.J.
Sequeira and Notaro.
ORU broke the game open in the bottom of the eighth. Furmanek laced
a two-run single for a 7-2 lead, and Johnny
Roberts followed with three-run home run to dead centerfield
for a 10-2 advantage. Notaro belted a solo home run two batters
later to cap ORU's scoring.
Justin Kraft (5-2) took the loss for Centenary, allowing five runs
on six hits in 6.1 innings. He also issued six walks and hit batter
in addition to seven strikeouts.
Sequeira paced ORU's 10-hit offensive effort, banging out three
singles. Furmanek and Notaro each had two hits and frove in three
runs.
Leverson and Tompkins had two hits apiece for the Gents.
ORU and Centenary resume their four-game series on Saturday with a
2 p.m. doubleheader.
--ORU--
