TULSA-Chris Williams went 3-for-5 with five RBI and belted a game-breaking grand slam in the seventh inning to help lead Oral Robert to a 13-5 win over SIU-Edwardsville, Friday at J.L. Johnson Stadium.

The Golden Eagles (2-3) banged out a season-high 20 hits against the Cougars (0-4), including six for extra bases.

With the Golden Eagles clinging to a 7-5 lead, Williams hit a 1-0 pitch from Josh Hoguet over the left-centerfield wall for a 12-5 ORU lead. Williams' blast was part of a six-run seventh inning which also featured a two-run double by Spencer Barnett.

The Cougars took a 2-0 lead against starting pitcher Joe Spring in the second inning, scoring a pair of unearned runs. With two outs freshman second baseman T.J. Bennett misplayed Travis Becherer's grounder, allowing runners to score from second and third.

ORU bounced back with three runs in the bottom of the third. After Joey Winiecki led off with a single and stole second, Brandon King belted a two-run homer to rightfield, tying the game at 2-2. Nick Baligod followed with a single, moved to third on a double by Chris Elder and later scored on a groundout by Cam Schiller as ORU took a 3-2 lead.

After SIUE tied it in the top of the fourth, Baligod gave the Golden Eagles a 5-3 lead with a two-run double in the bottom of the inning.

RBI doubles by SIUE's Brett Keeler and Zach Hawkins in the fifth inning tied the game at 5-5. Williams broke the tie for ORU with a bloop single to left, scoring Schiller with two outs and giving the Golden Eagles a 6-5 lead.

Williams was one of eight Golden Eagles with at least two hits. Baligod led way by going 4-for-6 with two RBI and three runs scored. King added three hits, while Winiecki, Elder, Schiller, Barnett, and Brett Sowers each had two.

Alec Smith (1-0) earned his first career victory by tossing four innings of two-hit relief. The sophomore right-hander struck out four and walked three.

Ryan Daniels (0-1) took the loss for the Cougars.

ORU and SIU-Edwardsville resume their series at 2 p.m., Saturday.

--ORU--