Game One Box Score | Game Two Box Score | Season Stats

The Basics
Game One Score: Oral Roberts 11 – North Dakota State 5
Game Two Score: Oral Roberts 6 – North Dakota State 7
Records: ORU (19-18, 10-8 SL) – NDSU (10-19, 8-10 SL)
Location: Fargo, N.D. (Newman Outdoor Field)

FARGO, N.D. – A remarkable come-from-behind effort by the Oral Roberts baseball team in game one earned an 11-5 victory before North Dakota State split the twin bill Saturday getting a 7-6, walk-off win in the finale at Newman Outdoor Field.

Spencer Henson hit a pair of solo home runs through the wind late in the ballgame sparking a rally by the Golden Eagles as the visitors erased a 5-1 deficit over the final four frames. Down to its final two outs, ORU scored eight times in the ninth inning overcoming a two-run lead by the Bison to win game one 11-5.

Hunter Swift was on the top of his game from the bullpen holding NDSU to one base runner, via error, pitching the final four innings, which gave the Golden Eagles offense the chance to break through for the victory.

Both teams traded punches in the night cap as ORU answered three different Bison run-scoring innings the very next frame, but did not have a chance to respond as NDSU used a walk-off, infield single to avoid the weekend sweep.

Game One Turning Point

Trailing the Bison by two runs in the final inning, ORU sent 13 batters to the plate extending across 37 minutes and scored eight runs to turn the momentum in its favor. Hunter Wilson came through with a two-run single with one out that tied the score, 5-5, after the Golden Eagles loaded the bases. A two-run single by Anthony Martinez capped the offensive outburst as ORU posted four hits and drew six free passes completing the comeback.

Inside the Game One Box Score

- Swift's brilliant, career-long four innings of long relief earned his fourth win of the season moving to 4-0. He struck out a career-best six hitters and was in complete control allowing just one base runner to reach.

- Henson finished the opening game 3-for-4 hitting two solo home runs and scored three times. The junior also drew a walk reaching base four times and now has double-digit home runs this year with a Summit League-leading 10.

- Blake Hall tallied a pair of doubles and scored twice in the contest, while Martinez and Isaac Coffey also had two hits. Martinez joined Henson and Wilson with two RBI for the Golden Eagles as seven different players provided at least one RBI.

- ORU's starter Matt Gaskins cruised through his first four innings on the mound, but ran into trouble in the fifth as the Bison scored five times with two outs taking advantage of four walks. He struck out four over five innings of work as the Golden Eagles pitchers limited NDSU to just four hits.

Game Two Turning Point

A lead-off single by the Bison opened the bottom of the ninth and ORU got a ground ball out to erase the lead runner keeping one at first with one out. Back-to-back wild pitches allowed the baserunner to move within 90 feet of home plate and an infield single scored the winning run as the Golden Eagles looked to turn an inning-ending double play and escape the jam.

Inside the Game Two Box Score

- Brody Gibson came up clutch in the finale behind a career-high three RBI on a 2-for-4 performance. The sophomore hit a RBI single in the sixth and tied the game in the eighth lifting a two-run single to the gap in right center.

- Swift went 3-for-4 at the plate on three singles and swiped a base, while Hall delivered two hits, including a two-run single in the three-run sixth. He also had a double, the only extra-base hit of the game for either team.

- Trevor McCutchin led the Golden Eagles with two runs scored, Wilson tallied a pair of infield singles and Martinez drew a team-best three walks.

- Coffey allowed one run on four hits in three innings as the starting pitcher before Sam Rainwater tossed 3.1 innings giving up two runs on four hits, while striking out three. Trey Wolf suffered the loss surrendering one run on four hits over two innings.

Up Next

ORU continues along its season-long, seven-game road stretch heading to Stillwater, Oklahoma, for a matchup with in-state rival Oklahoma State, the Big 12 leaders, April 23. First pitch against the Cowboys is scheduled for 6 p.m. as the Golden Eagles play for the final time at Allie P. Reynolds Stadium.

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