ORU Snags Comeback Win Over Texas Tech

An eighth inning rally led the Oral Roberts baseball team to a 5-4 win over Texas Tech Tuesday afternoon.

An RBI single from Tyler Neslony in the first inning helped Texas Tech take an early 1-0 lead. Soon after, Tech advanced its advantage to 3-0, before Tyler Buss entered the game to pitch for Bryce Howe.

ORU finally tallied a run at the bottom of the third when Anthony Sequeira doubled to right-center, bringing in Matt Whatley.

The Golden Eagles continued to fight, cutting The Red Raiders' lead to just one by the bottom of four after Nick Roark batted in Rolando Martinez, making it a 3-2 ball game.

Texas Tech tried to get it going again at the top of five with a deep shot, but Martinez went up and over the wall to rob the Red Raiders of the homer. With runners on base, ORU ended Tech's threat when Eric Gutierrez flied out down the right field line.

The bottom of the fifth was luckless for the Golden Eagles, as Matt Brandy, Audie Afenir, and Emmanuel Forcier combined for three outs, leaving Sequeira stranded on third.

Tech furthered its advantage 4-2 at the top of six with a solo homer from its starting pitcher Quinn Carpenter.

The bottom of the sixth looked hopeful for the Golden Eagles after Noah Cummings led off with a left field double. Next, Wilson grounded out to second base, advancing Cummings to third, before Roark brought him in with a shot to right field. The Golden Eagles' rally came to an end when Tech's Stephen Smith caught Derrian James' fly ball in right field before gunning Cummings out at home.

ORU grabbed its gloves at the top of seven trailing 4-3.

The Red Raiders didn't gain the cushion they hoped for, stranding two on base before taking the field at the bottom of the inning.

The Golden Eagles had a chance to take the lead at the bottom of seven, but a double play by Tech's shortstop, Orlando Garcia, cleared the board.

TURNING POINT: The Golden Eagles took a 5-4 lead when James doubled off the left-center wall, bringing in Whatley and Dean Wilson.

The Golden Eagles held the Red Raiders at the top of nine to win 5-4.

Up Next

ORU will hit the road to take the field against Western Illinois in the start of a three-game series on Friday at 3:00 p.m.