Baseball 5/14/2009 12:00:00 AM

ORU Baseball Wraps Up Summit League Regular Season at Western Illinois

MACOMB, Ill. – The Oral Roberts University baseball team wraps up the Summit League regular season this weekend with a four-game series at Western Illinois. Live stats and audio will be available at www.orugoldeneagles.com.

First Pitch
The Golden Eagles (26-13) wrap up the Summit League regular season this weekend with a four-game series at Western Illinois. Game times are 4:00 (Thursday), 12:00 (Friday) and 1:00 (Saturday). The Golden Eagles hold the 44-5 all-time advantage against the Leathernecks dating back to the 1986, including a 5-0 mark last season.

Scouting the Leathernecks
Western Illinois enters this weekend with a 13-32 overall record and an 8-15 mark in Summit League play. The Leathernecks are coming off of a series loss at North Dakota State. Drew Laidig leads the offense, batting at a .357 clip with 12 doubles, six home runs and 41 home runs. Tyler Metcalf has added power to the lineup, posting 12 doubles, 11 homers and 49 RBI. The Golden Eagles are expected to face left-hander Austin Brough, right-hander Randon Lingle, right-hander Eric Eden and left-hander John Sneegas. Brough leads the team in wins at four, while Eden tops the squad with a 6.90 ERA.

Last Time Out
ORU dropped a heartbreaking 3-2 decision at No. 16 Arkansas on Tuesday night, when Scott Lyons hit a two-out bases-loaded double to clear the bases in the bottom of the ninth. Drew Bowen pitched eight scoreless innings heading into the ninth, and fanned Jacob House to begin the inning. After two consecutive bloop singles, Bowen struck out Tom Hauskey for a career-high 13 punch outs, and hit Chase Leavitt to load the bases. Lyons then hit a drive to left field that forced the fielder to change direction and miss the ball. After escaping a bases-loaded jam in the first inning, Bowen went on to record three perfect innings, retiring 11 straight and 14 of 15 batters. The Golden Eagles got on the board first in the top of the fourth inning to take a 2-0 lead. Furmanek led off the inning with a single through the left side and P.J. Sequeira (Petaluma, Calif.) drew a one-out walk. A wild throw to first base on a swinging strike out scored the contest's first two runs.

Last Time They Met
The two teams met five times last season, with ORU sweeping a four-game series during the regular season in Tulsa before edging the Leathernecks in extra innings to advance to the Summit League title game. In the semifinal matchup on May 23, the Golden Eagles scored six runs in the 10th inning to avoid the upset. T.J. Kelly earned his second win of the season after allowing only one run in 3.2 innings pitched. Four Golden Eagles posted three hits apeice, including Juan Martinez, who went 3-for-5 with an RBI.

- ORU -

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

#36 Drew Bowen: RHP; 6' 3"; Redshirt; Memorial HS

#34 T.J. Kelly: RHP; 6' 1"; Senior

#5 Juan Martinez: INF; 5' 10"; Senior

#25 P.J. Sequeira: OF; 6' 3"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#36 Drew Bowen
: 6' 3"; Redshirt; Memorial HS
: RHP

#34 T.J. Kelly
: 6' 1"; Senior
: RHP

#5 Juan Martinez
: 5' 10"; Senior
: INF

#25 P.J. Sequeira
: 6' 3"; Junior
: OF