The Basics
Game 26-28
Oral Roberts (14-11, 6-0) vs. North Dakota State (4-19, 1-5)
Dates: March 28, 3:00 PM | March 28, 6:00 PM | March 29, 1:00 PM
Location: Newman Outdoor Field (Fargo, ND)
Live Stats: NDSU Athletics | NDSU Athletics | NDSU Athletics
Broadcast: Midco Sports | Midco Sports
 
TULSA, Oklahoma – The Oral Roberts baseball team's three-game series at North Dakota State has been adjusted due to cold temperatures. The series will now begin with a doubleheader Saturday, March 28. Game one is set for a 3 p.m. first pitch, with game two starting approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of game one.
 
Fans can keep up with 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 to Air Force after sweeping St. Thomas in Summit League play. ORU opened the series with a 4-0 shutout before taking games two and three, 8-2 and 11-3, respectively, before falling to Air Force, 4-3, on Wednesday evening.
 
Makani Tanaka led the Golden Eagles against Air Force, recording two hits, including a solo home run in the seventh. Brenden Asher (0-1) got the start and was charged with the loss after tossing 3.0 innings, allowing two runs while walking none and striking out three.
 
Martell Davis led ORU in the series against St. Thomas, recording six hits in 11 at-bats with a double and a home run while driving in three RBI. Davis slashed .545/.545/.909 against the Tommies.
 
Also contributing extra-base hits were Wailele Kane-Yates with two home runs, Tyler Brodrick with one, and Cooper Combs with a double. Kane-Yates led the team with six RBI over the three games, including a grand slam in the series finale.
 
Easton Teel opened the series Friday, tossing 6.2 shutout innings while allowing four hits, walking none, and striking out a career-high nine. Weston Rouse picked up the win out of the bullpen, throwing 2.1 shutout innings while allowing two hits, walking one, and striking out four.
 
Inside the Series:
Oral Roberts holds a 55-31 advantage in the all-time series against NDSU. The two teams met nine times last season, with each side winning the regular season series on the road.
 
National Recognition:
Easton Teel was recently named a top 100 starting pitcher by D1 Baseball, checking in at No. 67 in the week six rankings. The right-hander currently leads the league with a 2.73 ERA and 1.09 WHIP. He ranks second in strikeout-to-walk ratio (4.29) and walks allowed per nine innings (1.91). A sophomore, Teel has started every weekend series this season.
 
Golden Eagle Defense:
ORU's defense ranks among the best not only in the league, but in the nation, as the team's .983 fielding percentage sits 18th nationally. The Golden Eagles have also turned 17 double plays this season, good for third in the league.
 
Pitcher of the Week:
Sophomore Easton Teel was named the Summit League Peak Pitcher of the Week Tuesday. The right-hander threw 6.2 scoreless innings in the Golden Eagles' series-opening 4-0 win over St. Thomas. The Choctaw, Okla., native scattered four hits and struck out a career-high nine Tommies.
 
Scouting the Opponent:
North Dakota State, the reigning Summit League Tournament champion, is currently 4-19 overall and 1-5 in league play, ranking sixth in the conference.
 
The Bison are coming off a series at South Dakota State, where they took game one, 6-1, before dropping both games of a Saturday doubleheader, 13-5 and 11-1 (8 innings).
 
As a team, NDSU is hitting .206 with 145 hits, including 24 doubles, one triple, and a league-best 16 home runs. Their 18 sacrifice bunts lead the league and rank 19th nationally.
 
Caleb Corbin leads the team with a .277 batting average, tallying 23 hits in 83 at-bats. Diego Trujillo follows with a .262 average and a team-best six doubles, while Evan Guastafson leads the team with five home runs.
 
On the mound, NDSU has a 6.94 team ERA, which ranks third in the league. The Bison are allowing 10.41 hits per nine innings while striking out 7.3 batters per nine. Jonah Walker's 4.39 ERA ranks seventh in the Summit League, while his 6.75 hits allowed per nine innings leads the conference. Parker Puetz leads the league with 11.57 strikeouts per nine innings.
 
Head coach Tyler Oakes holds a 99-132-1 career record, all coming in his five seasons with the Bison.

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