The Basics
ORU (7-7, 0-0) –
Arkansas State (11-5, 0-0)
Location: Chapman Park (Tulsa, OK)
TULSA, Oklahoma – The Oral Roberts baseball team secured the series win over Arkansas State in a doubleheader on Saturday.
Game 1: ORU 3, Arkansas State 2
Win:
Maddox Thornton (1-0),
Loss: Cooper Garrison (0-1),
Save: N/A
The Golden Eagles opened the day with a 3-2, 14-inning win. The five extra innings mark the longest nonconference game since 2013 when ORU took Oklahoma to 15 innings in Norman, and the most innings of a nonconference game in Golden Eagle territory since a 15-inning, 7-6 win over Missouri State in 2006.
Hudson Ellis and
Martell Davis led the team in game one, each recording two hits with one double. Also recording extra-base hits were
Kole Dudding with a double and
Cooper Combs with a home run.
A-State opened scoring on the day with a solo home run to left field in the top of the first. The Golden Eagles were quick to respond with a homer of their own, as
Cooper Combs hit his third home run of the season 340 feet into the visiting bullpen, tying the game at one.
ORU gained the advantage in the fifth as Dudding reached on a double, advanced to third on a groundout and scored on an Ellis double.
The Red Wolves tied the game, 2-2, with an RBI bunt single in the seventh, a score that would remain for seven more frames.
Over the following seven innings, A-State was able to put four runners on base and ORU nine. The Golden Eagles found success with the bases loaded in the 14th, as Dudding reached on an error, moved to second on a single by
Matthew Mainord and to third on an Ellis hit by pitch. Dudding was driven in on a sacrifice fly to center by
Makani Tanaka.
Maddox Thornton (1-0) got the win out of the bullpen for Oral Roberts. The right-hander went one shutout inning, giving up one hit, no walks and striking out one.
Easton Teel started the ballgame and went six innings, surrendering one run on four hits while walking one and striking out five.
Kash Ferris showed out in the 13th, striking out all three batters and ending the inning with a backward K.
Cooper Garrison was charged with the loss, entering in the 14th and allowing the bases to be loaded for the game-ending sacrifice fly.
Game 2: ORU 4, Arkansas State 3
Win:
Luke Williams (1-0),
Loss: Jack Nelson (0-1),
Save:
Jack Hill (S, 1)
Martell Davis led the team in game two of the doubleheader, recording two hits, including a double. The Golden Eagles had only two other hits in the game, one apiece from
Kole Dudding and
Makani Tanaka.
In similar fashion to the 2 p.m. game, Arkansas State opened scoring in the first, driving in a run with an RBI single, which the Golden Eagles swiftly matched in the bottom of the frame when Davis doubled to drive in Tanaka, who had reached on a first-pitch hit by pitch and stole second.
The Red Wolves made it 3-1 with a two-run home run in the sixth, but the lead was short-lived as ORU hit a homer of their own in the sixth to take the advantage, 4-3. The three-run homer came after
Cooper Kelly was walked and moved to second on an Edmunson hit by pitch before both runners were scored with a Dudding homer to left field.
Luke Williams (1-0) picked up the victory out of the bullpen for Oral Roberts. The southpaw went two shutout innings without giving up a hit, allowing no walks and striking out three.
Jack Hill also made an impact on the mound for the Golden Eagles, throwing two shutout innings while allowing two hits with no walks and one strikeout to earn the save.
A-State starter Jack Nelson was charged with the loss after allowing the lead-taking three-run homer. Nelson threw 5.2 innings, allowing four runs on three hits with two walks while striking out five.
Up Next
The Golden Eagles will go for the series sweep over A-State Sunday at 1 p.m.
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