TULSA-Drew Bowen and Matt Rush combined on a six-hitter to lead Oral Roberts to a 1-0 Summit League series-opening victory over IPFW, Friday at J.L. Johnson Stadium.

The victory, coupled with South Dakota State's loss to Oakland, moved the Golden Eagles (20-16, 9-4 Summit) to within one game of first place in the Summit League standings.

Bowen (2-2) was dominant from the start, recording his first six outs via strikeout. The sophomore right-hander was only in serious trouble once. With the game scoreless in the top of the third, IPFW's Brendan Landwehr led off with a double and moved to second on a groundout by Garrett Seagraves. But Bowen induced a soft line out from Will Faulkner and a fly ball to center from Brett Clark to end the threat.

ORU scored the game's only run in the fourth. Brandon King led off with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice by T.J. Bennett. Brett Sowers connected for a long single to left field, easily scoring King with the game's first - and only - run to give ORU a 1-0 advantage.

Bowen continued to dominate the Mastodons (11-24, 6-7), striking out a pair of batters in the fourth, and getting an inning-ending double play in the fifth. He retired the side in order in the sixth and worked around a lead-off walk in the seventh, facing just three hitters in the inning after catcher Bennett Pickar gunned down Kurt Dudley trying to steal.

In all, Bowen allowed just five hits and struck out a season-high nine batters in 7.1 innings, his longest outing of the year.

Rush relieved Bowen with one out and one on in the eighth and struck out four of the six batters he faced to earn his league-leading seventh save of the year.

Nick Opitz (3-6) was the hard-luck loser for IPFW, allowing one run on six hits while striking out two in a complete game effort.

The Golden Eagles and Mastodons resume their four-game series with a 2 p.m., Saturday doubleheader.

--ORU--