FARGO, N.D.-Cam Schiller belted three home runs to help Oral Roberts to a Summit League doubleheader split with North Dakota State, Saturday at Newman Outdoor Field. NDSU won the opener, 5-3, while ORU picked up a run-rule victory in the nightcap, 10-0.

In game one, all of the scoring came in the early innings. Schiller hit the first of his two home runs with one out and the bases empty in the top of the first inning to give ORU (18-15, 7-3) a 1-0 lead. But it didn't last long as a fielding error by first baseman Chris Williams allowed the Bison (10-19, 7-3) to score the tying run in the bottom of the first.

ORU regained the lead in the top of the third when Schiller connected for a two-run homer, giving ORU a 3-1 lead.

NDSU took control of game one in the third inning by scoring four runs. A sacrifice fly by Nick Colwell gave the Bison a 2-1 lead. Zach Heidmann made it 3-1 with an RBI groundout, and run scoring singles by Nic Obey and Tim Colwell gave the Bison a 5-3 lead.

The Golden Eagles managed just two hits the rest of the game as the NDSU pitching staff made the lead hold up.

Drew Bowen (1-2) suffered the loss for ORU after allowing five runs (four earned) on five hits and three walks in six innings. Colby Tognetti improved to 2-3 for the Bison after giving up three runs on five hits in six innings.

In game two the Golden Eagles wasted no time in jumping all over the Bison, scoring six runs in the top of the first inning. NDSU starting pitcher Mark Hermes opened the frame by hitting Brandon King and walking Schiller and Chris Elder to load the bases. Nick Baligod followed with a two-run single for a 2-0 lead. Both runners moved up on a Hermes wild pitch, with Elder crossing the plate to make it 3-0.

Hermes departed and Brett Burch greeted reliever Jon Straka with a run-scoring sacrifice bunt to make it 4-0. Graham McIntyre connected for a sacrifice fly for a 5-0 lead and Brandon Healy laced a run-scoring double two batters later to make it 6-0.

Schiller connected for his third home run of the day in the top of the fourth, a two-run shot which gave ORU an 8-0 lead. Schiller made it 9-0 with a sacrifice fly in the sixth, and King gave the Golden Eagles a 10-0 lead with a solo home run in the top of the eighth.

North Dakota State managed just a two-out single in the bottom of the eighth as ORU earned the run-rule victory.

Sean Johnson (3-2) picked up the win for ORU, tossing seven shutout innings. The senior right-hander allowed six hits and two walks while striking out a career-high eight batters. Jason Stacy pitched the eighth for the Golden Eagles.


Schiller had three hits in the doubleheader and all of them went over the fence. The junior shortstop finished the day with six RBI. King scored four runs in the night cap and stole a pair of bases.

The Golden Eagles and Bison and wrap up their series with a 1 p.m., Sunday, doubleheader.

--ORU--