The Basics
Games 17-19
Oral Roberts (7-9, 0-0) vs. South Dakota State (5-11, 0-0)
Dates: March 13, 6:00 PM | March 14, 2:00 PM | March 15, 1:00 PM
Location: Chapman Park (Tulsa, OK)
Live Stats: ORU Athletics
Video: Summit League Network | Summit League Network | Summit League Network
 
TULSA, Oklahoma – The Oral Roberts baseball team readies to open Summit League play at home with a three-game series against South Dakota State starting Friday, March 13.
 
Fans are encouraged to join the Golden Eagles in the Decades Weekend-themed games, dressing in '80s neon Friday, '90s denim Saturday, and 2000s Y2K on Sunday.
 
Fans can watch the action live on the Summit League Network or follow updates on X at @ORUBASE.
 
Last Time Out:
The Golden Eagles are coming off a midweek loss at Central Arkansas after taking a series against Arkansas State last weekend.
 
Makani Tanaka led the team at UCA, going 3-for-5 and recording the only extra-base hit for the Golden Eagles with an RBI double in the fourth inning.
 
Sophomore Cooper Moore (0-1) took the loss on the mound for Oral Roberts. The right-hander went one inning, allowing one run.
 
Martell Davis led the team in the series against Arkansas State with a .357 average, putting up five hits, including two doubles, over the three-game series. Kole Dudding, Hudson Ellis, and Matthew Mainord also added to the extra-base hitting with a double apiece. Dudding also stood out with a three-run go-ahead homer to give the Golden Eagles a 4-3 win.
 
Easton Teel started and threw 6.0 innings in game one for the Golden Eagles last weekend, allowing just one run while striking out five batters. Jack Hill picked up a save in game two against A-State, throwing 2.0 shutout innings.
 
Pitching Matchup:  
Friday: RHP Easton Teel (2-2 / 4.19 ERA / 19.1 IP) vs. RHP Ty Madison (0-4 / 11.12 ERA / 17.0 IP)
Saturday: RHP Nathan Love (1-1 / 5.60 ERA / 17.2 IP) vs. RHP Sam Schlecht (2-1 / 3.98 ERA / 20.1 IP)
Sunday: RHP Conner Johnson (1-1 / 5.40 ERA / 18.1 IP) vs. RHP Sam Novotny (1-1 / 5.75 ERA / 20.1 IP)
 
Inside the Series:
The Golden Eagles hold an 84-23 all-time series record over SDSU. Last season, ORU swept the Jackrabbits in Tulsa and Brookings before taking an 11-2 win in the first round of Summit League Tournament play.
 
Scouting the Opponent:
South Dakota State is currently 5-11 on the season, recently falling to Kansas State 9-0 on Wednesday after going 1-2 in the Cambria Classic.
 
Projected Friday starter Ty Madison currently ranks second in the league in walks per nine innings (2.12), while game two starter Sam Schlecht's 22 strikeouts are a team best.
 
As a team, the Jackrabbits have an 8.07 ERA and a 1.12 strikeout-to-walk ratio, averaging 7.7 strikeouts and allowing 11.07 hits per nine innings.
 
On the offensive side, SDSU has a .249 team batting average, recording 136 hits with 26 doubles, two triples, and a league-best nine home runs.
 
Carter Taylor currently leads the team with a .360 batting average, recording 18 hits in 50 at-bats with two doubles and two home runs. Nolan Grawe currently leads the team and ranks fourth in the league with six doubles, while Luke Luskey and Owen Siegert have one triple apiece.
 
Head coach Rob Bishop has built a 313-402-1 career record over 16 seasons, including a 179-249 mark over 10 seasons with the Jackrabbits.
 
Dudding Dingers:
Kole Dudding made an impact early this season, entering to pinch-hit against then-#6 Arkansas. The redshirt sophomore hit a home run more than 400 feet over the left-field wall for his first hit of the season.
 
Following his blast against the Razorbacks, Dudding found a spot in the lineup in the three-game series against Arkansas State, where he hit a go-ahead three-run homer to win game two, 4-3.
 
 
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