Oral Roberts' Win Streak Ends With Loss to Oakland

The Golden Eagles could not overcome a fast start for Oakland.

Thursday, May 26th 2011, 12:23 pm

By: News On 6

Oral Roberts' Win Streak Ends With Loss to Oakland

Originally Published: May 8, 2011 5:51 PM CDT

Corey DeMoss
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

ROCHESTER, Minn. – The Oral Roberts baseball team fell short of a four-game sweep thanks to a 6-4 loss to Oakland University Sunday.

Coming off a doubleheader sweep the day before, both offenses got off to a quick start. Oral Roberts got on the board first with an RBI single by Chris Elder in the top of the first, but Oakland responded with scores in three straight innings.

The Golden Grizzlies took the lead in the bottom of the first with two runs, first from a sacrifice fly by Ryan Waldhart and then thanks to a wild pitch with a runner on third. They extended their lead to 3-1 with another sacrifice fly – this time from Eric Ogg – in the second inning.

Oakland added two more runs in the third with back-to-back RBI singles by starting pitcher Aaron Wick and Aaron Cieslak and held a 5-1 lead after only three innings.

The Golden Eagles cut into the lead with a big fifth inning, starting with a two-run single by Joey Winiecki. He later scored on an RBI single by Jared Schlehuber to bring ORU one run away from tying the game.

ORU managed to get runners on second and third later in the inning, put the go-ahead run in scoring position. But Brandon King grounded out to end the inning, and the Eagles never threatened again.

Oakland added one more insurance run in the eighth inning on another sacrifice fly by Waldhart, and Wick closed things out in the ninth to finish a complete game.

The loss ended a five-game winning streak for the Golden Eagles, but they remain second in the Summit League standings behind South Dakota State. ORU will return to action at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday against Wichita State.