Gonzalez Dominates In ORU's Shutout Win

Alex Gonzalez dominated yet again for Oral Roberts with one of his best performances of the year as the Golden Eagles shutout Northwestern State, 3-0.

Gonzalez, now 8-5 this season, tied a career high with 13 strikeouts in eight innings on the mound and allowed just three hits. Kurt Giller entered in the ninth to earn his second save of the season.

Despite improving its Southland Conference record to 15-10 and 22-29 overall, ORU is now playing for tournament seeding as the Golden Eagles were eliminated from the title race with a victory by Sam Houston State. The Demons fell to 15-29 and 4-21 in conference play.

Kevin Cho and Matt Brandy led the Golden Eagles with two hits in the game, while Brandy, Tyler Boss and Austen Colt each drove in runs.

The Golden Eagles jumped out to a 1-0 lead in first as Cho singled to start the game, scoring on a Brandy double off the wall in left.

After sitting the Demons down on just eight pitches in the bottom of the first, including a strikeout to end the inning, Gonzalez rolled through the home half of the second by striking out the side.

Brandy reached base a second time with a leadoff single in the top of the fifth. Sliding safely into second on a Logan Domenico sacrifice bunt, Brandy was forced to leave the game due to an injury. Brandy Healy entered to run, scoring later in the inning on a single to right from Tyler Boss.

The Golden Eagles added an insurance run in eighth inning as Colt singled in Nate Goro, expanding the lead to 3-0.

ORU goes for the series victory on Friday as they hook up with the Demons in game two at 6:30 p.m.