The Basics
Score: Oral Roberts 9 – Missouri State 8
Records: ORU (18-12), Missouri State (14-14)
Location: Springfield, Mo. (Hammons Field)
Win: Cade Denton (2-0) | Loss: Trey Ziegenbein (4-4)
 
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Jake McMurray delivered the go-ahead hit and the Oral Roberts baseball team rallied from a five-run deficit to snap their two-game skid Tuesday evening, edging Missouri State, 9-8, in midweek action from Hammons Field in Springfield, Missouri.

The last time the Golden Eagles overcame a five-run deficit was exactly three years ago, April 12, 2019, in an 8-7 win at home over Omaha.
 
Trailing 8-5 entering the ninth, ORU plated four runs on three hits and took advantage of two Missouri State errors in the frame to take their first lead of the game, 9-8.
 
After Holden Breeze reached on a throwing error and Jackson Loftin singled up the middle, ORU brought the tying run to the plate with no one out. Joshua Cox plated breeze to cut the deficit to 8-6 and reached first safely courtesy of the second Missouri State error of the frame. The ensuing batter, Dustin Demeter, brought home Loftin with an RBI double down the left-field line to trim the deficit to one, 8-7.
 
Following back-to-back strikeouts, the Golden Eagles were down to their last out as McMurray stepped to the plate. Facing a 1-2 count, McMurray delivered as the junior dropped a single into left-field, scoring Cox and Dylan Criquet Danielson, who pinch-ran for Demeter, to give ORU the 9-8 advantage.
 
Cade Denton worked around a single and struck out two in the ninth to finish off the 9-8 come-from-behind victory for the Golden Eagles. The sophomore picked up his second win of the 2022 campaign after tossing two scoreless frames and fanning four.
 
After two scoreless innings to open the contest, the Bears struck first in the third with three runs to take an early 3-0 lead.
 
Mac McCroskey put the Golden Eagles on the board in the fifth with an RBI single, plating McMurray, who reached on a one-out double down the left-field line.
 
The Bears matched the ORU run in the bottom half of the frame to push their lead back to three, 4-1.
 
In the sixth, Loftin led off the inning with a solo shot to left and Connor Beichler later cut the Missouri State lead to one, 4-3, with an RBI triple to center. Loftin's homer was his team-leading sixth of the season, while Beichler's triple was his first of the year.
 
Four runs in the bottom half of the sixth by the Bears extended their advantage to 8-3.
 
ORU continued to fight back though as two more runs crossed the plate in the seventh to cut the deficit to 8-5. Cox plated Breeze and reached first safely on a throwing error by the shortstop and Demeter followed with an RBI double that scored Loftin.
 
Inside the Box Score
- Cox, Demeter and McMurray each drove in two runs in the win.
- McMurray registered a team-best three hits on the night, finishing the game 3-for-5 at the dish.
- Loftin went 2-for-3 at the plate, scored a team-best three runs, and launched his team-leading sixth homer of the season.
- The redshirt junior also drew a game-best two walks and stole his team-high 13th bag of the season.
- Demeter, who entered the contest as a pinch hitter in the sixth, finished the night 2-for-3 with two doubles.
- Cox swiped second in the sixth and is now a perfect 7-for-7 on the year.
- Seven Golden Eagles registered a hit in the win.
- Andrew Roach got the start for the Golden Eagles, working four innings and allowing three runs.
- McCullough struck out three over 1.2 scoreless innings on the bump.
- Denton notched his second win of the season after striking out four over two scoreless frames.
 
Notes
- Tuesday's contest marked the second meeting this season and 62nd all-time between the Golden Eagles and Bears. Both games this season were decided by one run.
- The victory moves ORU to 2-0 in 2022 and 34-28 all-time against Missouri State.
- On the road, ORU is now 11-14 all-time against the Bears.
- Head Coach Ryan Folmar is now 8-9 in his career against Missouri State. Folmar now sits at 299 career wins after the victory.
- The come-from-behind win marked the first time this season that ORU won a game when trailing after seven innings. The Golden Eagles were previously 0-11.
- ORU last rallied from a five-run deficit exactly three years ago from today, April 12, 2019, against Omaha.
- The victory improves ORU to 14-10 in non-conference play and 5-4 on the road in 2022.

Up Next
The Golden Eagles return to Summit League play this weekend as they travel to Macomb, Illinois, for a three-game set against Western Illinois. First pitch for Friday's contest is set for 3 p.m.

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