Shockers Snap ORU's Winning Streak

Oral Roberts University baseball saw its five-game winning streak snapped on Tuesday night in Wichita, Kan., as the Golden Eagles fell 6-5 to the Shockers of Wichita State.

ORU (19-17) splits the season series to the Shockers (18-17) with loss.

The Golden Eagles used seven pitchers in the loss, with Kurt Giller pitching 1.2 innings and allowing four runs on five hits in the start. Colin Hightower took the loss for the Golden Eagles, allowing two runs in two-thirds of an inning. Jacob McDavid rounded out the Golden Eagle pitching, sitting down three of the final four Wichita State batters on strikes.

Logan Domenico and Graham McIntyre each had two hits, including a double, and a run batted in each, and Matt Brandy had a pair of hits and an RBI. Tyler Boss picked up and RBI single in the contest as well.

Daniel Kihle was perfect at the plate for the Shockers with four hits, two RBI's and a run scored. Kris Gardner (1-2) picked up with win in the start for the home team, going three innings, allowing just two hits and one run. Foster Vielock entered in the ninth inning to earn the save.

For the first time in the 14 games, ORU's opponent got on the board first in the game as the Shockers plated four runs on four hits in the bottom of the first. With two runners on after a pair of singles, Garrett Bayliff, the third WSU batter of the game, picked up a two-run double into right to go up 2-0.

Casey Gillaspie followed with a double down the right field line that plated Bayliff. After he move to third on a fly ball to left, Gillaspie crossed the plate on a groundout off the bat of Dayne Parker to extend the early lead to 4-0.

In the top of the second, ORU cut the Shocker lead to 4-1 as McIntyre doubled down the left field line to bring home Anthony Sequeira from first.

Following a scoreless third by both squads, the Golden Eagles plated three runs on four hits to tie the game at four in the top of the fourth. With runners on the corners, Brandon Healy hit a grounder that bounced away from the Shocker shortstop, allowing Audie Afenir to score. Domenico followed with an RBI single through the right side to score McIntyre, making it a 4-3 game.

Brandy quickly tied the game at four with a RBI single to right center to drive in Healy.

Kihle broke the tie in the bottom of the sixth with a double into the gap in left center to score two runs with Tanner Kirk and Tyler Baker crossing the plate to make it 6-4.

The Golden Eagles answered with their final run of the game in the next half inning. With Domenico standing on third base with two outs, Boss singled through the left side to bring Domenico home, cutting the Shocker lead to 6-5.

ORU has a day off before returning to action on Thursday as they host Houston Baptist in the first of three games at J.L. Johnson Stadium. First pitch for game one is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.