The Basics
South Alabama Invitational
Score: Oral Roberts 2 - Tennessee Tech 5
Records: ORU (0-1), Tennessee Tech (1-0)
Location: Mobile, Ala. (Stanky Field)
Win: Brock Myers (1-0) | Loss: Isaac Coffey (0-1) | Save: Jackson Berry (1)
 
MOBILE, Ala. – The Oral Roberts baseball team stranded 20 baserunners Friday afternoon as they dropped their 2022 season opener to Tennessee Tech, 5-2, in game one of the South Alabama Invitational in Mobile, Alabama. The Golden Eagles left the bases loaded five times on the day.

Trailing 5-2 in the bottom of the ninth, the Golden Eagles loaded the bases on a Jake McMurray walk with only one out in the frame. ORU's offense couldn't capitalize on the opportunity though as Dustin Demeter flew out to left field and Preston Baumgartner struck out looking to end the game.

Starter Isaac Coffey retired six of the first seven batters he faced before the junior ran into trouble in the third inning. Zach Bondurant led off the inning with a single and later came around to score on a Gabe Lacy RBI single to put Tennessee Tech up 1-0.

After ORU left the bases loaded in the third and fourth innings, the Golden Eagles broke through on the scoreboard in the fifth as Holden Breeze drove home Caleb Denny with an RBI single to left field. Tennessee Tech responded in the next frame as RBI singles from Hayden Gilliland and Will Long put TTU back in front, 3-1.

ORU stranded the bases loaded two more times in the sixth and seventh innings before trimming the Tennessee Tech lead to one, 3-2, on an Alec Jones RBI single that scored McMurray in the eighth. Tennessee Tech added two runs of insurance in the top of the ninth to push their lead to 5-2.

Inside the Box Score
- Caleb Denny reached base safely in all five at-bats, finishing a perfect 3-for-3 with two walks.
- In their ORU debuts, Mac McCroskey and Breeze each registered at least two hits and reached base a combined eight times.
- McMurray reached base four times on the day, drawing a game-high three walks to go along with a single.
- Coffey tossed six innings, allowed three runs and struck out four batters in his first start of 2022.
- Freshman Jakob Hall made his ORU debut, striking out two over an inning of work.
- The Golden Eagles had a runner reach scoring position in every inning but the first.
- ORU finished the contest with 12 hits and 12 walks

Up Next
The Golden Eagles continue their play at the South Alabama Invitational Saturday as they face off against the host team, South Alabama. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN+ or you can listen live on the ORU Sports Network.
 
 
For the latest information on ORU Baseball, follow the Golden Eagles on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, or go to www.ORUAthletics.com. Fans can also receive updates on the team by downloading the ORU Athletics app from the App Store or Google Play Store.