The Basics
Score: Oral Roberts 8 – Central Arkansas 7
Records: ORU (31-15), Central Arkansas (22-24)
Location: Tulsa, Okla. (J.L. Johnson Stadium)
Win: Kaleb McCullough (1-0) | Loss: Tyler Navarro (3-2) | Save: Cade Denton (5)
 
TULSA, Okla. - The Oral Roberts baseball team scored two runs in the eighth to regain the lead and Cade Denton closed the door in the ninth as the Golden Eagles defeated Central Arkansas, 8-7, in their home finale Tuesday night at J.L. Johnson Stadium.

After Joshua Cox singled and Dustin Demeter doubled to leadoff the bottom of the eighth, Jake McMurray tied the game, 8-8, with a sacrifice fly to right that scored Cox. Mac McCroskey followed with a sac fly of his own to put ORU back in front for good, 8-7. Dylan Criquet Danielson, who pinch-ran for Demeter, scored the winning run.

In the ninth, the tying run reached third with only one out in the frame for the Bears. With the infield in, Dylan Cyr hit a grounder to McCroskey at second, who then fired a laser home to throw out the runner at the plate and keep the Golden Eagles in front. Denton then forced another groundout, this time to McMurray at first, who stepped on the bag himself to end the contest.

Kaleb McCullough picked up his first win of the season in relief, while Denton notched his fifth save of the campaign. For Denton, the sophomore has now thrown 22 consecutive scoreless innings.

Offensively, McCroskey went a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate and registered the game-winning RBI to lead the Golden Eagles. Caleb Denny drove in a team-best three runs, while Cox and McMurray each tallied three hits apiece.

The Bears jumped on top in the first, 1-0, with an RBI single to right-center by Andrew Pollum.

For the fifth straight game, Denny plated the first runs of the contest for ORU as the redshirt sophomore roped a two-run double down the right-field line to put the Golden Eagles in front, 2-1. The reigning Summit League Player of the Week later came around to score on an RBI groundout from Justin Quinn to make it 3-1, ORU.

In the third, the Bears got a run back on an RBI double to trim the lead to 3-2.

Joshua Cox answered in the fourth with a two-run opposite-field homer to stretch the Golden Eagle advantage to 5-2.

Later in the frame, Denny added to the lead, 6-2, with a sacrifice fly to center, which plated Brody Gibson.

The Bears responded with a three-run homer in the fifth to cut the ORU advantage to one, 6-5. 

After a scoreless sixth and seventh inning from both sides, Central Arkansas regained the lead, 7-6, in the eighth on a two-run homer off the bat of Kolby Johnson.

Inside the Box Score
- AJ Archambo, Cox, McCroskey and McMurray each registered a multi-hit game.
- McCroskey was a perfect 4-for-4 at the dish and plated the game-winning RBI.
- McMurray finished the night 3-for-4 at the plate and extended his hitting streak to five games.
- Cox drove in two runs and ended the night 3-for-4.
- Seven of the nine Golden Eagles in the lineup registered a hit.
- In the win, ORU racked up 16 hits but did not record a walk for only the third time this season.
- On the mound, the Golden Eagles used 10 different pitchers on the night.
- Foster Roy got the start for ORU, marking the first of his career.
- Andrew Davis, Andrew Roach, Colten Weber, Brooks Fowler, Jakob Hall and Denton all threw scoreless frames for the Golden Eagles in the win.
- In the sixth, Fowler struck out the side swinging.
- The win was the first of the year for McCullough and it also marked the first decision of the year for the senior.
- Denton's save was his fifth of the year as the sophomore has now thrown 22 consecutive scoreless innings.
 
Notes
- Tuesday's midweek contest marked the 16th meeting all-time and second this season between the Golden Eagles and Bears. 
- With the win, ORU capped off the season sweep of Central Arkansas and now owns a 12-4 edge in the series.
- At J.L. Johnson Stadium, the Golden Eagles are now 9-0 all-time against the Bears.
- In midweek contests, ORU is now 11-3 and have won five straight.
- The Golden Eagles conclude their 2022 home schedule with an 18-9 mark.
- Jackson Loftin's 21-game on-base streak came to an end.

Up Next
The Golden Eagles wrap up the regular season with a seven-game road trip starting with a three-game set at Summit League foe Omaha May 13-15 in Omaha, Nebraska. First pitch for Friday's series opener is set for 6 p.m.

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.