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

The Basics
Game One Score: Merrimack 6 – Oral Roberts 5
Game Two Score: Merrimack 4 – Oral Roberts 0
Records: MC (2-1, 0-0 NEC) – ORU (1-2, 0-0 SL)
Location: Tulsa, Okla. (J.L. Johnson Stadium)

TULSA, Okla. – The Oral Roberts baseball team dropped both ends of a Saturday doubleheader to visiting Merrimack falling 6-5 and 4-0 at J.L. Johnson Stadium.

The Golden Eagles struck for the opening run of game one and got a pair of solo home runs from senior Blake Hall before needing to score twice in the seventh to even the game, 4-4. The Warriors posted two in the eighth to come away with their first-ever NCAA Division I victory, 6-5.

Hall launched ORU's first home run of the 2020 season in the bottom of the second lining a one-out homer to left. As it did in Friday's contest, Merrimack answered back to tie the game in the third on a RBI groundout and took its first lead in the fourth adding three runs on a quick, two-out burst. A double, single and two-run home run provided the offense for the visitors in the frame.

The Golden Eagles fought back to pull even in the seventh as Hunter Swift sent a RBI single to the gap in right center and Ryan Cash made it 4-4 on a RBI grounder. ORU nearly broke through later in the frame loading the bases with two outs, but a deep fly ended the chance. Merrimack picked up two unearned runs in the eighth retaking a two-run advantage.

Swift delivered another RBI in the bottom half of the eighth on a bases-loaded groundout only to have the Warriors pitch out of the jam and secure the win, 6-5.

ORU was unable to string together the necessary offense in the night cap registering just five hits in the 4-0 setback leaving a total of nine runner on base.

Merrimack opened the game with a walk that came around to score on a RBI single in the first and ORU had a prime opportunity to answer back in the bottom half of the frame, but a two-out rally came up short leaving the bases loaded. The Warriors pushed the margin to 2-0 getting an unearned run via a sacrifice fly in the top of the sixth.

The first two batters reached for the Golden Eagles in the sixth as Adam Oviedo drew a walk and Jordan Wiley singled back up the middle. With the tying run on base, Merrimack was able to limit ORU retiring the next three batters to maintain the advantage. The Warriors doubled their lead in the eighth getting a RBI single and another sac fly pushing to a 4-0 win.

Quote of the Day

"We didn't play well enough to win. We made mistakes throughout the day and they capitalized on every mistake we made. We need to learn and grow from a day like today." – Head Coach Ryan Folmar

Game One Turning Point

Immediately after coming back to tie the game in the seventh, an ORU error to start the eighth proved costly as Merrimack put two runners into scoring position and delivered a two-run single turning the tie into a 6-4 margin.

Inside the Game One Box Score

- Hall tallied the second multi-home run game of his ORU career after hitting two at home against Omaha April 14, 2019. The senior went 2-for-3 at the plate and drew a walk to tally three of the team's five runs scored and two RBI.

- Swift closed the contest going 1-for-4 and matched Hall for the lead with two RBI.

- Tanner Lindsly made his collegiate debut earning the start behind the plate and reached base three times. The redshirt freshman was 1-for-2 hitting and scored a run, while drawing a pair of walks.

- Tanner Rogen (0-1) suffered the loss in the start throwing 7.2 innings allowing six runs, four earned, on eight hits and struck out three. Matt Gaskins and Sam Rainwater each pitched 0.2 inning from the bullpen and didn't give up a hit.

Game Two Turning Point

A walk to the Warriors opening the day's final game followed by a batter being hit-by-pitch helped the visitors put runners on before an out was recorded. Merrimack started the scoring on a RBI single in the first and never gave up the lead over the nine-inning affair.

Inside the Game Two Box Score

- Wiley and Swift paced the offense totaling four of the team's five hits as each player had two in the game. Swift finished by reaching base three times thanks to a walk in the second inning.

- Oviedo added ORU's only other hit, a single in the bottom of the first, finishing 1-for-3 and also drew a walk.

- James Notary (0-1) threw 5.1 innings as the Golden Eagles starting pitcher and ended up with the loss giving up two runs, one earned, on six hits. The junior struck out three and walked two. Foster Roy made his ORU debut and surrendered two runs on four hits in 2.1 innings of relief work.

- Jacob Salim pitched the final 1.1 innings from the ORU bullpen and struck out three without allowing a single baserunner.

Up Next

ORU and Merrimack meet for the final game of opening weekend Sunday afternoon with first pitch live on the ORU Sports Network at 1 p.m.

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