ORU Sweeps Doubleheader Against South Dakota State

The two victories put the Golden Eagles one-game ahead of SDSU in the Summit League standings.

Thursday, May 26th 2011, 12:24 pm

By: News On 6

ORU Sweeps Doubleheader Against South Dakota State

Originally Published: May 14, 2011 10:11 PM CDT

Oklahoma Sports Staff

TULSA, Okla.—The Oral Roberts Golden Eagles pulled out a doubleheader sweep of South Dakota State Saturday winning 12-6 and 4-2 respectively.

In the nightcap, ORU senior Chris Elder blasted a two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth frame to propel the Golden Eagles to the win.

The victory pushes Oral Roberts to 29-18 overall and 17-6 in the Summit League which gives them a one-game lead over SDSU.

In the opening game, South Dakota State jumped out to an early 4-0 lead thanks to three runs in the second and another in the third.

But ORU came back swinging scoring seven runs in the third before Nick Baligod led off the fourth with a solo home run to make it 8-4.

Zach Briggs tried to rally with a solo homer of his own in the sixth for SDSU but in the seventh frame Bennett Pickar launched a two-run homer to go up 10-5. Two more runs would score for the Golden Eagles with another two-run shot by BrandonKing in the eighth to close out the game by a final of 12-6.

In game two Elder led off with a double before Jared Schlehuber stepped up to the plate and slipped a single up the middle to score Elder and take the 1-0 lead.

In the top of the third, the Jackrabbits tied the game on an unearned run, then took the lead in the sixth on a bases loaded single by Jesse Sawyer to go up 2-1.

The Golden Eagles came alive in the sixth when King led off with a single, followed by Elder who slammed one over the right-center wall to give ORU the 3-2 lead.

Cam Schiller added to the hitting with a double then Schlehuber moved him around the bases with a sacrifice bunt.

T.J. Bennett took the pate and knocked a ball into a gap in the infield to score a run and go up 4-2.

Lars Liquori entered the game in relief and picked up his first save of the season on a 3-6-3 double play to end the game in the seventh.

Alex Gonzalez allowed one earned run on three hits and four walks while striking out five batters. His seven victories are the most for an ORU freshman since Taylor McIntyre also won seven in 2003.

Elder finished game two 2-for-3 with two RBI and two runs.

The Golden Eagles take the field again Sunday with hopes of completing the series sweep and a two-game lead in the standings at 1 p.m. inside J.L. Johnson Stadium.