ORAL ROBERTS COMPLETES SWEEP OF JACKS

Sunday, March 27

Tulsa, Okla.

1 p.m.

South Dakota State University

6-15, 0-3

Oral Roberts

15-9, 3-0

South Dakota State

Oral Roberts

Photo by: SDSU Sports Information

3/27/2022 8:54:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

TULSA, Okla. — Oral Roberts grabbed the lead for good in a back-and-forth game against South Dakota State with three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning and went on to defeat the Jackrabbits, 10-7, Sunday afternoon at J.L. Johnson Stadium to finish off a three-game sweep of their Summit League baseball series.

The Golden Eagles improved to 15-9 overall and 3-0 in league play. SDSU dropped to 6-15 overall and 0-3 in The Summit League.

The two squads traded four-run innings in the early going. ORU struck in the bottom of the first, with the first run scoring on an error before Lindsly hit a two-run double and Joshua Cox followed with a rush-scoring double of his own.

SDSU answered in the top of the second with a four-run frame. Henry George led off with an infield single and advanced to third base on a single by Nic Nelson before scoring on a groundout off the bat of Reece Anderson. Thatcher Kozal and Luke Ira added two-out doubles to knot the game, with Kozal's hit down the right-field line scoring Nelson and Ira's two-bagger to the left-field corner plating both Jordan Sagedahl and Kozal.

ORU took a momentary 6-4 lead with two runs in the bottom of the third inning, but the Jackrabbits again tied the game in their next at-bat as Kozal launched a two-run home run off the scoreboard in right-center field. It was his second home run of the season.

The Golden Eagles used aggressive baserunning and small-ball in the decisive fifth inning. Cox opened the inning by reaching on a bunt single and moved into scoring position with a pair of stolen bases before crossing home plate with the go-ahead run on a fielders choice off the bat of Connor Beichler. Beichler later stole both second and third to set Jake McMurray for the second RBI groundout of the inning.

After Mac McCroskey singled, he recorded the fifth stolen base of the inning for ORU and later scored on a base hit by Caleb Denny. McCroskey was 3-for-5 to lead the Golden Eagles' 12-hit attack.

SDSU drew to within 9-7 in the top of the seventh on back-to-back doubles by Ryan McDonald and George, but ORU responded with a run in the home half of the inning on an RBI single by McMurray that was the final tally in the game.

Five of South Dakota State's seven hits — four doubles and the home run — went for extra bases. Kozal and George each tallied two hits for the Jackrabbits, with both of Kozal's going for extra bases.

Bret Barnett took the loss in relief for the Jackrabbits after allowing three runs over 2 2/3 innings. He struck out three and walked two.

For ORU, Colten Weber earned the win in relief after strikeout out four over 1 2/3 innings. Reed Ronan followed with five strikeouts in two innings, with Kaleb McCullough closing out the victory with three K's in two frames.

UP NEXT
The Jackrabbits are scheduled to play Wednesday night at Creighton. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. at Charles Schwab Field in downtown Omaha, Nebraska.

NOTES

ORU leads the all-time series, 66-19, and has won each of the last nine meetings in Tulsa
McDonald reached base safely for the 10^th consecutive game
Kozal's three runs batted in marked a career high
Kozal became the first player other than George to hit out of the leadoff spot this season for the Jackrabbits
Ira finished the series 5-for-14 (.357 batting average) with five RBIs
Alex Clemons made his team-leading eighth pitching appearance of the season — and second of the series — by tossing 1 2/3 scoreless innings