Box Score
RUSTON, La. - Chris Williams hit a three-run go
ahead homerun and Brad Fisher sat down the final two batters as the
Oral Roberts baseball team survived against Louisiana Tech on
Saturday, 5-4.
After giving up a run in the bottom of the seventh, the Golden
Eagles were running out of opportunities to regain the lead.
However, Williams' home run quickly changed the game around in the
top of the eighth.
The first pitch of the inning put the first runner on base as
Jose Trevino was plunked by the LaTech pitcher. Two batters later,
following a sacrifice bunt by Matt Brandy, Nate Goro singled to
left to move Trevino to third.
After a Tyler Boss strikeout for the second out, Williams sent a
0-1 pitch that cleared the right-centerfield wall for a three-run
homerun, giving the Golden Eagles a 5-3 lead. It was Williams'
third home run of the season.
In the ninth, Graham McIntyre ripped a single up the middle to
lead off the inning, moving to second two batters later on a
sacrifice fly by Kevin Cho. The Bulldogs played the strategy game
as Trevino stepped in with a runner in scoring position, putting
him on with an intentional walk.
However, Brandy looked like he was going to drive in at least a
run, the LaTech centerfielder made a great play to end the inning,
holding the Golden Eagles at bay.
Brad Fisher entered the game in the bottom of the eighth, not
allowing a hit. However, in the ninth, mistakes almost cost the
Golden Eagles.
Austin Hedges entered the game as a pinch hitter to begin the
LaTech half of the ninth, reaching on a throwing error, moving to
second the play. Colby Johnson took Hedges' place on second as a
pinch runner, advancing to third on a ball four wild pitch with
Ryan Jones at the plate.
Ryan Gebhardt stepped in and singled to right field, scoring
Johnson and moving Jones to second. Following a sac bunt, the ORU
coach staff played the percentages, walking Kyle Arnsberg to load
the bases with the best Bulldog hitter, Tyler Ervine, coming to the
plate.
Fisher stepped up huge with the bases loaded and just one out,
sending both Ervine and Tyler Qualls back to the dugout looking at
strike three for the final two outs of the game.
Fisher earned his first victory of the season, going two innings
with a hit. Caleb Dudley was the losing pitcher of record, allowing
two of the three runs on Williams' homer.
LaTech took the first lead of the ballgame in the bottom of the
second following a couple of singles by Ervine and Jacob Derouen.
Evine eventually crossed the plate a couple of batters later on a
groundout to short by Bre'shon Kimbell.
The Golden Eagles took their first lead of the after with a pair
of runs in the top of the fourth.
Trevino led the inning off with his lone hit of the afternoon,
taking second on a wild pitch and moved to third on a Brandy fly
out to right. Goro grounded out to short, put picked up the RBI as
Trevino crossed the plate to tie the game.
With two outs, Boss reached on an error by the Bulldog shortstop
and moved into scoring position by stealing second. Williams then
picked up his first hit of the game with a single to center,
scoring Boss.
Williams finished with two hits and four RBI's. McIntyre also
added a pair of hits.
The Golden Eagles improve to 2-4 on the year, while the Bulldogs
drop to 2-4. The rubber game of the three-game set is scheduled to
begin at 1 p.m. on Sunday.