The Basics
Score: Oral Roberts 5 – South Dakota State 4
Records: ORU (13-9, 1-0), South Dakota State (6-13, 0-1)
Location: Tulsa, Okla. (J.L. Johnson Stadium)
Win: Cade Denton (1-0) | Loss: Reece Arbogast (1-1)
 
TULSA, Okla. – Behind a walk-off double from Jake McMurray in the 14th inning, the Oral Roberts baseball team snapped their four-game skid Friday night with a 5-4 victory over South Dakota State in their 2022 Summit League Opener at J.L. Johnson Stadium.

The walk-off victory was the second of the season for the Golden Eagles and the 14 inning contest was the longest for ORU since 2017 (13 innings).

Facing a full count with two outs in the bottom of the 14th, McMurray ripped the next pitch he saw down the left-field line for an RBI double as Brody Gibson came all the way around to score the winning run from first. Gibson reached on a one-out single up the middle. 

Starter Isaac Coffey shined on the mound for the Golden Eagles, tossing seven scoreless frames and allowing only one hit to his six strikeouts. Sophomore Cade Denton picked up the victory for ORU in relief, working 3.2 scoreless innings and striking out seven.

The Golden Eagles struck first in the contest as an error by the Jackrabbits on a Caleb Denny single allowed Mac McCroskey to come around to score in the opening frame.

Holden Breeze extended the ORU lead, 2-0, in the fourth with an RBI single to left-center, plating Jackson Loftin.

In the fifth, Loftin made it 4-0 Golden Eagles with a two-run single through the left side that deflected off the shortstop. Denny and McMurray both crossed the plate on the play.

After Coffey held SDSU to only one hit through seven frames, the Jackrabbits offense came to life in the eighth. An error by the Golden Eagles on a Hunter George single allowed Drew Beazley to score from second, cutting the lead to 4-1. The next batter, Luke Ira, launched a three-run homer to left field to tie the contest, 4-4.

Both sides went down in order in the ninth to send the game to extra innings.

The Jackrabbits threatened to take their first lead of the contest in the 11th as they loaded the bases with two outs but Denton struck out Beazley to end the threat.

In the 13th, ORU advanced Denny, who led off the inning with a walk, to third with two outs but a strikeout by Dustin Demeter ended the Golden Eagle opportunity. 

A leadoff double and a two-out single in the top of the 14th put the go-ahead run 90-feet away for SDSU but Denton once again came through with a clutch strikeout to end the threat.
 
Inside the Box Score
- The 14 inning contest was the longest game since 2017 (13 innings) for the Golden Eagles.
- McMurray, Denny and Loftin all recorded multi-hit performances. 
- Eight different Golden Eagles registered a hit in the win.
- Tanner Lindsly got his first base knock of the season in pinch-hitting duties.
- McCroskey totaled a game-best two walks in the victory. 
- Loftin swiped his team-leading seventh bag of the season.
- Denny stole his fourth base of the season, setting a new career-high.
- Coffey threw at least six scoreless innings for the second time this season.
- Denton picked up his first win of the year.
- Evan Kowalski worked 3.1 innings out of the bullpen, allowing four runs and striking out two.
- ORU struck out a season-high 15 batters in the win.

Notes
- Friday's series opener marked the 84th meeting all-time between the Golden Eagles and Jackrabbits.
- ORU now holds a 65-19 edge in the series, including a 41-8 mark at J.L. Johnson Stadium.
- Head Coach Ryan Folmar is now 37-11 in his career against SDSU.

Up Next
The Golden Eagles are back on the diamond Saturday at 2 p.m. for game two of three against South Dakota State.

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