Hot Start Helps Golden Eagles Past Omaha

Trevin Sonnier drove in three runs and connected on his second home run of the season as the Oral Roberts baseball team defeated Omaha Friday afternoon, 7-2, at Ballpark at Boys Town. With the victory, ORU improved to 34-17 overall and 22-7 in Summit League action. 

The Golden Eagles jumped on top in the second with a pair of runs and scored multiple runs in both the sixth and seventh innings to secure the win. Sonnier and Matt Whatley led Oral Roberts at the plate, both finishing with three hits. Michael Hungate, Noah Cummings and Brent Williams each tallied two hits in the game. 

Nick Wood improved to 6-2 on the mound after going five and a third innings, giving up just two runs and striking out three. The redshirt senior did not allow a baserunner for the first three innings and retired the Mavericks (27-26, 17-12) in order in four of five innings. 

The ORU bullpen held strong on the day as Holden Cammack, Trevor McCutchin and Brady Womacks each went at least one inning in relief. Cammack did not allow a baserunner in an inning and two thirds while McCutchin and Womacks held the Mavericks scoreless in the eighth and ninth. 

The loss was charged to UNO's Sam Murphy who gave up five runs and nine base hits in five and a third innings. Daniel Flattery also surrendered a pair of runs out the bullpen for the Mavericks. 

In his first action in three weeks, Hungate drove in the first run of the day for ORU in the second after doubling to left to drive in Cummings. Sonnier traded places with Hungate the next at bat as he doubled down the line for his 10th two-bagger of the year. 

Hungate turned on the jets in the sixth after picking up a one-out single. The Katy, Texas product swiped second and third to up his stolen base total to 10 on the year. Chase Stafford would collect a pair of RBI later in the inning after continuing the double trend with his 20th of the season. 

Sonnier capped off the day in the seventh with a two-run home run down the left-field line to push the Oral Roberts lead back to five runs at 7-2. 

Notables

The Golden Eagles move to 10-1 all-time against the Mavericks with the win. 

Hungate, Sonnier and Stafford combined to go 6-of-13 on the day and drove in six of the teams' seven runs at the bottom of the order. 

In his return to the lineup, Whatley recorded three-straight base hits after starting the game 0-for-2. He also finished with an RBI. 

ORU outhit Omaha 14-8 on the day. The Golden Eagles improve to 25-4 when doing so. 

It marks the third game in-a-row the ORU defense has played without an error. 

Up Next

The Golden Eagles will play the rubber game with the Mavericks on Saturday. First pitch from Ballpark at Boys Town is scheduled for 1 p.m. as Cale Tims (6-1) will get the call on the mound Geoff Haxton will have the radio call on AM 1550 in the Tulsa area and around the world for free through ORUAthletics.com.