SDSU Snaps Oral Roberts' 9-Game Win Streak In Extra Innings

A seesaw battle saw South Dakota State snap the Oral Roberts baseball team's nine-game winning streak in extra innings, 8-7, Saturday afternoon in walk-off fashion.

ORU jumped out early with a lead-off home run from Matt Whatley followed by a blast from Matt Brandy in the top of the first inning. The Golden Eagles belted four home runs – all solo shots – as both teams combined for 28 hits and five homers.

Anthony Sequeira and Derrian James joined Whatley and Brandy to the home run list, but three errors proved costly in the final innings for ORU.

A single and a walk by the Jackrabbits set up a walk-off single by Al Robbins. The Golden Eagles made a play at the plate, but Reid Clary was able to slide in safely ahead of the tag and give SDSU an 8-7 win.

Turning Point

A one out walk and a single from South Dakota State brought Al Robbins to the plate. Robbins was able to lace a grounder up the middle as Clary was able to slide in safely ahead of the tag and give the Jackrabbits the walk-off win.

Individual Leaders

Oral Roberts: Derrian James went 2-for-3 with two walks and a solo home run. James also made a game-saving catch at the warning track in the bottom of the ninth.

SDSU: Al Robbins finished 4-for-5 with three RBI and a run scored. Jacobson also was 2-for-4 with two RBI and a home run.

Inside the Box Score

- The Golden Eagles saw their nine-game winning streak snapped with their first loss since March 18 at Texas Tech, 7-4.

- It was just the second extra inning game this season for ORU who are 1-1. It was also the third longest game this season at 3 hours and 33 minutes.

- It was the first time since March 2, 2012 against Alcorn State that the Golden Eagles hit four home runs in a game.

- Matt Whatley led-off the game with a home run making him the first ORU player to do so since Nate Goro did it at Texas A&M Corpus Christi on March 30, 2013. However, it was the second time this season Whatley hit a home run in the Golden Eagles' first at bat of the game as he led-off the bottom of the first against North Dakota State with a homer on March 14.

- Chase Stafford has reached base safely in 21 straight games as his streak is followed by Matt Brandy reaching safely in 19 straight.

- Brandy extended his hitting streak to seven straight games, the second longest of the season for the senior and third longest for the Golden Eagles.

Scoring Summary

- Matt Whatley belted the third pitch of the game over the centerfield wall to put ORU up 1-0 as he led off the game.

- Matt Brandy jumped on a full count to follow Whatley's lead with a one out homer to left giving the Golden Eagles a 2-0 in the top of the first inning.

- Paul Jacobson homered in the bottom of the first inning to pull SDSU within a run.

- Anthony Sequeira smashed his fourth home run of the season to give the Golden Eagles a 3-1 lead in the top of the fourth inning. Whatley reached three batters later on an error that scored Derrian James to extend the lead to 4-1.

- The Jackrabbits added a run in the bottom of the fourth on a RBI single from Robbins to make it a 4-2 lead by the Golden Eagles.

- SDSU made it a one run game, 4-3, in the bottom of the fifth inning when Kjolsing reached on an error and scored Coppola. Just one batter later, Robbins tied the game on a RBI single into right field.

- James hit the fourth home run of the game for ORU in the sixth inning to make it 5-4. Whatley reached in the same inning to put ORU back up by two runs, 6-4, scoring James.

- A sacrifice fly from Jacobson pulled the Jackrabbits within a run in the bottom of the sixth inning for his second RBI.

- The Jackrabbits tied the game in the bottom of the seventh inning on a Schneider RBI single before a bases loaded walk to Coppola put SDSU up 7-6.

- ORU tied the game in the top of the ninth inning when Cummings doubled home James after he worked a two out walk.

- A one out walk and a single from South Dakota State brought Al Robbins to the plate. Robbins was able to lace a grounder up the middle as Clary was able to slide in safely ahead of the tag and give the Jackrabbits the walk-off win.

Up Next

ORU and SDSU will meet in the rubber game Sunday at Erv Huether Field. First pitch on Easter Sunday is scheduled for 1 p.m.