The Basics
Game 38
Oral Roberts (23-14, 14-1) vs. No. 14 Oklahoma (27-12, 10-8)
Date: April 21, 6:30 PM
Location: Kimrey Family Stadium (Norman, OK)
Live Stats: OU Athletics
Broadcast: SEC Network+
 
TULSA, Oklahoma – The Oral Roberts baseball team readies for a midweek matchup at No. 14 Oklahoma on Tuesday, April 21 at 6:30 p.m.
 
Fans can follow the action live on the SEC Network+ or keep up with updates on X at @ORUBASE.
 
Last Time Out:
The Golden Eagles are coming off a series sweep at South Dakota State, defeating the Jackrabbits 8-4, 18-2, and 10-2.
 
Will Edmunson led the team over the series, driving in six runs with five hits in 12 at-bats. The senior outfielder had an extra-base hit in every game, recording two doubles and a home run.
 
Also contributing to the Golden Eagles' six home runs over the weekend were Cooper Combs, Matthew Mainord, Cooper Kelly, and Makani Tanaka, who hit two in the series opener.
 
On the mound, the Golden Eagles posted a 2.88 ERA against SDSU. Maddox Thornton, a graduate transfer, earned the save on Friday, throwing 4.0 shutout innings with three strikeouts and no walks. Jack Hill improved to 4-0 on the season after entering in the fifth inning of game three. The right-hander threw 2.2 scoreless, hitless innings, striking out three.
 
Inside the Series:
Tuesday marks the 89th meeting between ORU and the Sooners, with OU holding a 49-39 advantage in the all-time series. The two last met earlier this season, when the then-No. 8 Sooners defeated ORU 4-0 at Chapman Park.
 
In that March meeting, Will Edmunson led the Golden Eagles, going 2-for-4, while Cooper Combs, Keaton Campbell, and Hudson Ellis each added a hit. Michael Catalano (2-2) earned the win for OU, throwing 5.0 innings, allowing no runs on four hits with seven strikeouts.
 
Back-to-Back Weekly Honors:
Right-handed starter Easton Teel recently earned back-to-back weekly honors, being named the Kwik Star Peak Pitcher of the Week on Tuesday. Teel picked up his third weekly honor in the past four weeks since Summit League play began.
 
For the second straight week, he threw a season-high seven scoreless innings in a 9-0 win over Omaha in the series opener.
 
The Choctaw, Okla., native retired 12 Mavericks in order during one stretch and did not allow a hit until the fifth inning. He finished with six strikeouts and scattered three hits, logging five straight quality starts and allowing just two earned runs across 27.2 innings (0.65 ERA) of conference play.
 
Teel previously picked up his second weekly honor after matching his season-high with seven innings pitched in the opener against Northern Colorado. He allowed one earned run on four hits and struck out four to earn his second win of the season. He faced the minimum over his final four frames and did not allow a hit during that stretch.
 
Career Leader:
Sophomore starter Easton Teel continues to make his mark nationally, as the right-hander's 2.81 career ERA ranks 13th in NCAA Division I, while his 2.01 walks per nine innings rank 31st.
 
Golden Eagle Defense:
ORU's defense ranks among the nation's best, as its .985 fielding percentage ranks fourth nationally. The Golden Eagles have also turned 26 double plays this season, the second-most in the league.
 
Pitching Matchup:  
Tuesday: RHP Brenden Asher (0-3 / 6.06 ERA / 16.1 IP) vs. RHP Michael Catalano (3-3 / 5.27 ERA / 27.1 IP)
 
Scouting the Opponent:
Oklahoma is currently ranked No. 14 nationally with a 27-12 overall record and a 10-8 mark in SEC play.
 
The Sooners went 3-1 last week, falling to Oklahoma State, 7-3, at ONEOK Field in Tulsa before sweeping a series at Missouri.
 
Oklahoma is batting .283 as a team with 351 hits this season, including 76 doubles, 13 home runs, and a conference-best 12 triples, which rank 23rd nationally.
 
Trey Gambill, currently batting .330, leads the team and ranks 26th nationally with a .510 on-base percentage. Brendan Brock leads the team in RBIs with 39. Brock ranks fourth in the SEC alongside teammate Camden Johnson with 22 stolen bases.
 
On the mound, the Sooners have a 4.36 team ERA and rank sixth nationally with 7.16 hits allowed per nine innings.
 
Projected starter Michael Catalano holds a 5.27 ERA, making eight appearances and throwing 27.1 innings. The right-hander has compiled a 3-3 record this season and most recently took the loss at Oklahoma State last week.
 
Head coach Skip Johnson has a 295-187 career record, all in nine seasons at OU.
 
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