The Basics
Games 41-43
Oral Roberts (29-11, 14-1) vs South Dakota State (18-17, 10-5)
Dates: April 28-30
Location: J.L. Johnson Stadium (Tulsa, Okla.)
Watch: ORU Sports Network | Live Stats: Sidearm Stats

TULSA, Okla. – The Oral Roberts baseball team returns home to J.L. Johnson Stadium for a three-game set against Summit League foe South Dakota State starting Friday night at 6 p.m. Game two of the series is scheduled for Saturday at 2 p.m., while the finale is slated for Sunday at 1 p.m.

All three contests will be streamed on the ORU Sports Network and fans can also follow along with the game on ORU's Twitter, @ORUBaseball. For tickets, fans can visit www.mabeecenter.com.

Promo Schedule
Friday - Star Wars Night/$1 Hot Dogs
Saturday - Military Appreciation Day
Sunday - First Responders Day/Kids Run the Bases

Fans can receive four (4) FREE tickets to this weekend's games by clicking HERE and showing the graphic at the gate the day of the games.

Important Links
ORU Game Notes
Summit League Notes

Inside the Series
• Friday's series opener marks the 91st meeting all-time between the two programs.

• ORU holds a 70-20 edge in the series and has won eight of the last nine meetings.

• In Tulsa, Oklahoma, the Golden Eagles are 44-9 all-time against the Jackrabbits.

Quick Hits  
• ORU enters the weekend with wins in 19 of its last 22 contests, including eight of its last nine.

• For the first time since 2011, the Golden Eagles have been ranked in the Collegiate Baseball poll in back-to-back weeks as they remained at No. 30. In the USA Today Coaches poll, ORU received a vote for the third consecutive week.

• The Golden Eagles are coming off their sixth straight series win after taking two of three from North Dakota State last weekend. ORU's midweek contest at Oklahoma that was scheduled for Tuesday was canceled due to inclement weather.

• Junior Jonah Cox, who leads the nation in hits, was named the TicketSmarter Summit League Peak Performer of the Week after going 7-for-14 at the dish over the weekend with three homers. The Thornton, Colorado, native stretched his hitting streak to 24 games and has now recorded a hit in 39 of the 40 contests this season. On Wednesday, Cox was added to the Bobby Bragan National Collegiate Slugger Award Watch List.

• In addition to leading the nation in hits, Cox ranks third in triples (6), third in hits per game (1.8), ninth in batting average (.432) and 38th in stolen bases (20).

• The Golden Eagles will send the trio of RHP Jakob Hall, LHP Harley Gollert and RHP Brooks Fowler to the mound this weekend. The trio sports a combined 14-5 record and a 3.59 ERA on the year.

• Last week, shortstop Mac McCroskey was named to the Brooks Wallace Award Watch List, which honors the nation's top shortstop. The redshirt senior is hitting .296 with 11 homers, 38 RBI and 10 stolen bases. In addition to his offense, McCroskey anchors one of the top defenses in the nation.

• On the mound, midweek starter Joshua Caravalho was named to the College Baseball Foundation National Pitcher of the Year Watch List, while closer Cade Denton was named to the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Midseason Watch List.

• Out of the bullpen, reliever Jacob Widener has been dominant over his last 12.2 innings of work as the redshirt sophomore has struck out 25 batters and allowed only two runs.

• On April 22, first baseman Jake McMurray became the fourth player in program history since 1999 to appear in 200 career games.

• Entering the weekend, the Golden Eagle offense leads the Summit League in batting average (.312), runs (313), hits (441), home runs (66), RBI (284), stolen bases (69), slugging percentage (.529), triples (13) and total bases (748). On the mound, ORU tops the conference in ERA (4.14), batting average against (.245), WHIP (1.30), saves (14), innings pitched (352.0), hits allowed per nine innings (8.1), strikeouts-to-walk ratio (2.5) and strikeouts (359). Defensively, the Golden Eagles top the League in putouts (1056), assists (376), double plays (36) and fielding percentage (.984).

• Nationally, ORU ranks third in fielding percentage (.984), 16th in hits, 18th in WHIP, 19th in double plays, 19th in WL percentage (.725), 21st in batting average, 21st in slugging percentage, 26th in ERA, 29th in homers, 33rd in triples, 33rd in strikeout-to-walk ratio and 40th in steals. 

• Matt Hogan remains the League leader in RBI (51) and sac flies (6). At the national level, Hogan ranks 12th in sac flies, 27th in homers (15) and 27th in RBI.

• On the mound, Fowler tops the League in ERA with a 2.98 mark. Caleb Isaacs, Caravalho, Jakob Hall and Gollert are all tied for the conference lead in wins with five. 

• The Golden Eagles are coming off their 20th Summit League Tournament Championship and 29th NCAA Regional appearance after finishing with a 38-20 record in 2022. ORU returned 15 players from last year's NCAA Regional squad and welcomed 17 newcomers in the offseason.

• After an electric 2022 season out of the bullpen, RHP Cade Denton received Preseason First Team All-American honors from the National Collegiate Baseball Writer's Association (NCBWA) and was tabbed the Preseason Summit League Pitcher of the Year by D1 Baseball and Perfect Game USA. Through 19 appearances this season, Denton has recorded a 1.40 ERA and nine saves, which ranks sixth nationally.

• Among active players in Division I, Denton ranks second in career ERA with a 1.72 mark.

• In the 2023 Summit League Preseason Coaches Poll, ORU was selected as the unanimous favorite to claim the regular season crown. The Golden Eagles received 42 points and earned all six first-place votes they could. McCroskey and Denton were named the Preseason Player and Pitcher to Watch for ORU as voted on by the league's seven head coaches. McMurray and Denton garnered Preseason All-Summit League honors from Perfect Game USA.

• Entering the 2023 season, ORU ranks sixth all-time in NCAA history with a .652 winning percentage. 

• Since 2001, ORU has made 17 NCAA Regional appearances, which rank as the most among Oklahoma schools.

• Head Coach Ryan Folmar is in his 11th season at the helm of the Golden Eagles and has compiled a 348-221 (.612) overall record.  

Scouting the Opponent
• SDSU enters the weekend on an 11-game win streak and is coming off an 8-3 midweek victory at Nebraska.

• Ryan McDonald leads the Jackrabbits with 17 homers and 38 RBI to go along with a .410 average.

• On the mound, SDSU will start RHP Brady Hawkins, LHP Reece Arbogast and RHP Jake Goble.

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.