ORU Blasts South Dakota State to Win Conference Title

Originally Published: May 29, 2010 5:38 PM CDT

Gerald Goodridge
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

TULSA, Oklahoma -- Oral Roberts jumped out to an early lead to beat South Dakota State 12-2 and claim its 13th consecutive Summit League Championship.

Joey Winiecki doubled down the left field line on the first pitch of the game, and in the next at-bat P.J. Sequeira doubled to right field to bring him home. Nick Baligod immediately followed with a home run to center to give the Golden Eagles a 3-1 lead. Two at-bats later, Chris Elder added another two-run home run to take a 5-0 lead.

Sequeria drove in another run in the top of the second with an RBI double to center to score Bennett Pickar and extend the lead to six runs. Two innings later, Baligod drove Winiecki in to add another run to the Oral Roberts lead.

Baligod finished the game hitting 4-of-5 with five RBI and one home run.

After ORU extended its lead to 9-0 in the top of the fifth, Zach Briggs homered to left field to score the Jackrabbits’ first run of the game. Down 11-1, Zach Rhodes drew a walk with the bases loaded to bring Joel Blake home and score SDSU’s final run of the game.

Jeff Burleson (8-4) pitched six innings for Oral Roberts, giving up two earned runs on five hits to receive the win. Stephen Bougher (2-4) only lasted 1.1 innings for SDSU after giving up six earned runs on six hits.

Oral Roberts will learn who they will play in the NCAA Tournament at 11:30 a.m. Monday and the regionals are set to begin June 4.