The Basics
Games 35-37
Oral Roberts (22-12, 7-2) vs. North Dakota State (21-12, 9-3)
Dates: April 22-23
Location: Tulsa, Okla. (J.L. Johnson Stadium)
Watch/Listen: ORU Sports Network | Live Stats: Sidearm Stats

TULSA, Okla. – The Oral Roberts baseball team returns home to J.L. Johnson Stadium this weekend for a crucial three-game set against the Bison of North Dakota State with the top spot in the Summit League standings on the line. Friday's series opener is slated for 6 p.m., followed by a doubleheader on Saturday starting at 2 p.m.

 Fans may visit www.mabeecenter.com to purchase tickets. 

Important Links
ORU Game Notes
Opponent Notes
Summit League Notes

Promo Schedule
Friday - Star Wars Day/$1 Hot Dogs
Saturday - Teacher Appreciation Day/Social Saturday/Disney Day

Inside the Series
• Friday's series opener marks the 65th meeting all-time between Oral Roberts and North Dakota State.

• All-time, ORU holds a 45-19 edge in the series after splitting the 10 contests last season with the Bison. At J.L. Johnson Stadium, the Golden Eagles are 29-7 all-time against North Dakota State.

• Head Coach Ryan Folmar owns a 30-13 mark all-time in his career against NDSU.

Quick Hits     
• ORU enters the weekend a game up in the loss column over the Bison for the top spot in the Summit League.

• The Golden Eagles picked up their second road win over a Top 3 opponent Tuesday night as they downed No. 2 Oklahoma State, 15-9, in 12 innings. ORU is the only team in the country with road wins over multiple Top 3 opponents.

• Freshman Jakob Hall picked up the win after tossing three perfect frames and striking out six, both of which were career-highs. 

• Caleb Denny led the ORU offense with a career-high five hits to go along with a home run and two RBIs. The redshirt sophomore finished the night a triple shy of the cycle. Connor Beichler, who finished the night 3-for-7 at the dish, scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch.

• In the Summit League, ORU's offense ranks first in batting average (.288), runs (246), hits (337), doubles (64), triples (13), RBIs (222), walks (172), sacrifice flies (18) and on-base percentage (.385). On the mound, the Golden Eagles lead the conference in innings pitched (297.0) and strikeouts (322).

• Nationally, ORU enters the weekend ranked 17th in fielding percentage (.979), 21st in WHIP (1.27), 22nd in triples, 22nd in triples per game (0.38), 22nd in walks allowed per nine innings (3.30), 22nd in strikeout-to-walk-ratio (2.95), 32nd in hits allowed per nine innings (8.09) and 54th in strikeouts per nine innings (9.8).

• Caleb Denny continues to sit atop the Summit League in RBIs with 35, while Jackson Loftin remains the league leader in runs scored with 37.

• On the bump, Ledgend Smith ranks first among the conference in opposing batting average (.209) and wins (5). Isaac Coffey leads the league in walks allowed with only eight.

• The Golden Eagles will throw RHP Evan Kowalski on Friday followed by LHP Smith and RHP Coffey on Saturday.

• Coffey enters the weekend 1.2 innings away from 200 for his career. The righthander also sits only six strikeouts away from 200 for his career.

• ORU was selected as the unanimous favorite to retain their regular-season crown in the 2022 Summit League Preseason Coaches' poll, garnering 36 points and all six of the possible first-place votes they could attain.

• Coffey earned plenty of preseason accolades as the junior was selected as the Summit League Preseason Pitcher of the Year by both D1 Baseball and Perfect Game USA. The Goleta, California, native also garnered Preseason All-American honors from the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association and Collegiate Baseball. Joshua Cox was selected as the Summit League Player of the Year by both D1 Baseball and Perfect Game USA. Brooks Fowler garnered Preseason Summit League Freshman of the Year honors from D1 Baseball.

Scouting the Opponent
• North Dakota State dropped their midweek contest on the road at Nebraska, 4-3, Wednesday night. Over their last 10 games, the Bison are 6-4.

• Midway through the conference slate, North Dakota State is the lone team to win each of their Summit League series.

• Logan Williams leads the charge offensively for the Bison, racking up a league-best 10 home runs to go along with 31 RBIs. Four of the senior's 10 homers have come in conference play.

• On the mound, North Dakota State will throw LHP Max Loven, RHP Cade Feeney and RHP Evan Sankey.

• In the 2022 Summit League Preseason Coaches' poll, the Bison were picked to finish second. Last season, North Dakota State defeated ORU in the Summit League Tournament Championship game.

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