Oral Roberts Can't Hold Off FIU

Originally Published: Feb 27, 2010 11:7 PM CDT

Oklahoma Sports Staff

MIAMI -- Lammar Guy singled home the winning run with two outs in the bottom of the ninth to lift Florida International to a 10-9 win over Oral Roberts, Saturday.

ORU (0-2) couldn’t hold a 7-1 lead as the Golden Panthers (5-0) scored nine of their 10 runs in the final three innings.

Colby Price got ORU on the board in the top of the second with a three-run home run. Tyler Saladino made it 4-0 with a solo home run in the top of the third.

Florida International scored a run in the bottom of the third to make it 4-1, but ORU responded with two runs in the top of the fifth. The first run scored via an error by the left fielder and Chris Elder followed with a sacrifice fly to put the Golden Eagles on top 6-1.

Elder plated another run with an RBI ground out in the top of the seventh, giving the Golden Eagles a 7-1 lead.

But FIU came back against ORU starter Jeff Burleson, scoring four runs in the bottom of the seventh to chase Burleson from the game. The big blow was a two-run double by Raiko Alfonso, which cut ORU’s lead to 7-5.

The Golden Panthers scored four runs in the bottom of the eighth against relievers Bryce Smolen and Spencer Roberts. A three-run homer by pinch-hitter Rudy Flores gave FIU an 8-7 lead. Another run scored on a throwing error as FIU went up 9-7.

ORU rallied in the top of the ninth when pinch runner Nikko Wong scored on a fielding error with one out. Jared Schlehuber drove in the tying run with a bases-loaded walk three batters later.

In the bottom of the inning Roberts (0-1) retired the first two batters before allowing a double, a stolen base and the game-winning hit by Guy.

The Golden Eagles finished with 11 hits. P.J. Sequeira led the way with four hits and three runs, while Price finished with three hits.

ORU and Florida International play the final game of their three-game series at 12 p.m., Sunday.