Islanders Hand ORU First Conference Loss Of The Season

The Oral Roberts baseball squad made a ninth inning push in south Texas, but it wasn't enough as the Golden Eagles fell to the Islanders of Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 6-5.

It was the first Golden Eagle loss in Southland Conference play in five contesst, moving their overall record to 9-17. The rubber match of the three-game set against the Islanders (15-12) is set for 1 p.m. on Saturday.

Nate Goro got things going in the top of the first, leading off the game with a triple to right-center, scoring quickly as Graham McIntyre followed with a groundout.

After the Islanders tied the game in the bottom of the second, the Golden Eagles answered with a run of their own in the third. Logan Domenico hit a hot shot back up the middle, scoring McIntyre who began the inning with a double..

The Islanders struck back in the bottom of the fourth. With Zach Taylor standing on first after an RBI single that scored Brad Porras, Russell Vaugh went deep to right for his first homer of the season.

The home team added two more runs in the bottom of the fifth on four hits.

Earning the loss in the contest was senior Drew Bowen, going four innings and was credited with all six earned runs. It was his third loss this season.

Tim Zufall entered the game in relief in the fifth inning, allowing three hits, but striking out six batters in four full innings.

The Golden Eagles made one final push in the top of the ninth as Chris Williams doubled to right center to score Matt Brandy who reached in the previous at bat with a walk. With Williams standing on first, Garrett Greenwell came to the plate in a pinch hitting role, blasting a shot out of the park for his first homer in an ORU uniform.

Trevor Foss was the winning pitch for the Islanders as he went eight innings with 11 strikeouts and two earned runs.