The Basics
Games 1-3
Oral Roberts (0-0, 0-0) vs. Southern Illinois (0-0, 0-0)
Dates: Feb. 13^-15 | 3:00 PM, 2:00 PM, 1:00 PM
Location: Chapman Park (Tulsa, Oklahoma)
Watch: Summit League Network | Live Stats: ORU Athletics
 
TULSA, Oklahoma - Oral Roberts baseball is set to open the 2026 season at Chapman Park, taking on the Southern Illinois Salukis in a three-game series beginning Friday, February 13, through Sunday, February 15.
 
The Golden Eagles are coming off their 29th regular-season title, finishing the 2025 campaign with a 37-22 overall record and a 21-9 mark in Summit League play.
 
Pitching Matchup:  
Friday Game 1: RHP Easton Teel (7-2 / 2.95 ERA / 82.1 IP) vs. RHP Andrew Evans (4-2 / 10.08 ERA / 25.0 IP)
Saturday Game 2: RHP Nathan Love (6-7 / 4.01 ERA / 76.1 IP) vs. RHP Meade Johnson (1-2 / 5.20 ERA / 53.2 IP)
Sunday: RHP Conner Johnson (2-4 / 9.55 ERA / 27.1 IP) vs. RHP Ryan Halamicek (3-4 / 6.90 ERA / 73.0)
 
Inside the Series:
The series between SIU and the Golden Eagles dates back to 1974, with the two programs last meeting in 2011. The Salukis lead the all-time series, 9-6.
 
Scouting the Opponent:
Southern Illinois finished 37-20 last season with a 16-11 mark in Missouri Valley Conference play. Their season ended after losses to UIC and Murray State in the MVC Tournament.
 
SIU was picked to finish second in the MVC Preseason Poll, while six Salukis were named to the MVC Players to Watch list.
 
Tim Simay and Dylan Petrey previously earned All-Conference honors. Simay was named to the Second Team after batting .351. Petrey, a staple reliever for SIU, earned MVC Honorable Mention honors with a 4.22 ERA.
 
Kaleb Hall (OF), Meade Johnson (SP), Cecil Lofton (1B), and Gabe Petrucelli (2B) were also named Players to Watch.
 
1st Place = 1st Teamers:
ORU returns three Summit League First Team selections from 2025. Catcher Wailele Kane-Yates, right fielder Will Edmunson, and right-handed starter Easton Teel were each selected to the First Team for the first time in their careers.
 
League Award Winners:
RHP Easton Teel earned the 2025 Summit League Newcomer of the Year Award for his performance on the mound. His 2.95 ERA led the conference and ranked No. 36 nationally.
 
The freshman also led the league in strikeout-to-walk ratio (3.60), wins (7), WHIP (1.09), and walks allowed per nine innings (1.64).
 
Tulsa Tanks:
ORU relied on the long ball last season, leading the league with 70 home runs. Wailele Kane-Yates led the team and ranked second in the Summit League with 12 home runs, closely followed by Martell Davis with 10. Cooper Combs and Will Edmunson added nine each, while Owen Coil and Ethan Fielder finished with seven apiece.
 
Crown the King:
Head Coach Ryan Folmar surpassed legendary coach Larry Cochell for first on the ORU Baseball program's all-time wins list with the Golden Eagles' walk-off victory against Northern Colorado on Sunday, May 11. The win marked No. 429 for Folmar as head coach at ORU. He also led the program to a College World Series appearance in 2023, one of two appearances in program history.
 
In addition, Folmar was named the 2025 Summit League Coach of the Year.

For the latest information on ORU Baseball, follow the Golden Eagles on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or go to www.ORUAthletics.com.