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The Basics
Score: Western Illinois 1 – Oral Roberts 3
Records: WIU (10-24, 7-9 Summit League) – ORU (25-15, 15-5 Summit League)
Location: Tulsa, Okla. (J.L. Johnson Stadium)

TULSA, Okla. – Riley Keizor's two-run triple in the first inning provided the run support for Miguel Ausua and gave the Oral Roberts baseball team a 3-1 victory over Western Illinois Saturday afternoon at J.L. Johnson Stadium.

Ausua gave the Golden Eagles another quality start as he tossed eight innings and allowed only one run thanks to impressive defense in the field. The senior picked up his Summit League-leading seventh win of the season by keeping the Leathernecks off the board until the seventh.

Nick Roark added an insurance RBI in the bottom of the seventh scoring AJ Archambo after a lead-off double, while Kyler Stout shut the door on WIU in the ninth with his conference-best ninth save.

Quote of the Day

"(Miguel Ausua) was good. He threw lots of strikes; and lots of strikes early. He got some quick innings and quick outs, and then was able to settle in during the middle of the game and knock down eight innings. It was good to see that role continue for him." – Head Coach Ryan Folmar

Turning Point

For the second-consecutive contest, the Golden Eagles scored early to take control as Keizor extended a two-out rally blasting a two-run triple to the warning track in right. Noah Cummings started the frame with a single through the right side and Spencer Henson followed by drawing a walk. Keizor delivered his first triple plating the pair to push ORU out to a 2-0 advantage in the first inning.

Inside the Box Score

- Ausua pitched eight strong innings in the start as he struck out five allowing eight hits and only one run. The senior cruised through the first five innings holding the Leathernecks to just two hits and dropped his earned run average to 2.79 this season.

- Cummings closed the matinee going 2-for-2 hitting a single in the first inning before a double to left field in the third. The Leathernecks chose to intentionally walk the reigning Summit League Player of the Year in his final two plate appearances as he has yet to be retired in two games this weekend (4-for-4, four walks).

- Keizor narrowly missed a home run in the first frame, but settled for his first ORU triple as his two-out drive bounced off the right-field wall. He now has at least one RBI in each of his last four games.

- AJ Archambo ripped a double down the line in left for the first extra-base hit of his collegiate career opening the seventh inning. He scored on a one-out RBI single from Roark regaining ORU's two-run advantage, 3-1. On the play, Roark broke a tie for 10th all-time in total at-bats in program history passing current assistant coach and ORU Hall of Famer, Ryan Neill.

- Roark and Harrison Smith turned an inning-ending double play to stop a threat in top of the sixth inning after Western Illinois put runners on the corners with one out. It was more great ORU defense in the eighth as Nick Rotola threw out a runner at third as a WIU runner was one step away from crossing home plate.

Up Next

ORU goes for the weekend sweep meeting Western Illinois in the series finale Sunday afternoon at J.L. Johnson Stadium. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m. with live coverage available on the ORU Sports Network.

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