Oral Roberts Suffers First Three-Game Conference Series Sweep In School History

A late-inning break down cost the Golden Eagles on the diamond Sunday afternoon as they fell at the hands of the Lumberjacks of Stephen F. Austin, 5-3.

Down by a run heading into the top half of the third inning, the Golden Eagles got three hits to knot the game at one. Chris Williams got the inning going with an infield single into the hole at short and advanced on a single from Kevin Cho.

Matt Brandy then stepped in and hit a shot back up the middle to push across Williams.

The first run of the afternoon from Stephen F. Austin came by way of a solo shot to left off the bat of Freddy Villalobos in the second inning.

The Jacks retook the lead in the fifth inning with as Joseph Olsen singled with and eventually scored on a single off the bat of Brett Thornell.

In the top of the seventh, the Golden Eagles plated a couple of runs to take a 3-2 lead heading in the stretch. Graham McIntyre started the inning with an infield single and advanced to third on a bunt single from Austen Colt. Cho followed Colt with a single up the middle to score McIntyre.

Cho finished with two singles in the contest, as did Williams who reached on two of the infield variety.

With Colt standing on third after Cho's single, Logan Domenico tilted the scoreboard in the Golden Eagles favor with a deep fly ball to center, giving Colt enough time to score on the sacrifice.

The top of the ORU lineup, Cho, Brandy and Domenico, combined for four of the Golden Eagle hits and each had a run batted in. Joining the top three spots was seven, eight and nine hole hitters with the other four hits and each scoring the runs.

Unfortunately, the Jacks would plate three runs on two hits and an ORU error in the bottom of the eighth. The game tying run, Rene Moreda, came across the plate on a wild pitch.

After a strikeout, Max Lamantia singled to second to score Villalobos. In an attempt to throw out Lamantia at first, there was a defensive breakdown that allowed Hunter Dozier to score.

Taking the loss on the mound was Brad Fisher (1-3) and earning the win was Brett Higginbotham (1-1). Tim Zufall got the start and pitched well in the no-decision.

Sunday was the first time the Golden Eagles had been swept in a three-game set in conference play in school history, and just the second time overall as they dropped two game in a rain shorted series at Youngstown State in 1999 while playing in the Mid-Continent Conference.

The Golden Eagles look to snap their current five game skid on Tuesday night as they take on Oklahoma State at ONEOK Field in downtown Tulsa. Game time is set for 7:05 p.m.