Oral Roberts Wins Summit League Tournament Opener

Originally Published: May 27, 2010 10:22 PM CDT

Andrew Topps
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

TULSA, Oklahoma -- Brett Sowers solo home run in the sixth inning put Oral Roberts on top for good as the Golden Eagles defeated Centenary 4-2 in the opening round of the Summit League Tournament Thursday.

Both teams scored single runs in their half of the first inning. The Gents would plate another run in the second off an ORU error to go up 2-1.

Tyler Saladino scored on a Seth Furmanek single to tie the game 2-2 in the fifth inning.

Sowers led off the sixth inning by putting one over the left-field wall to give ORU a 3-2 lead. Nick Baligod scored an insurance run in the seventh to double the Golden Eagles lead.

Bryce Smolen went the distance for Oral Roberts giving up two runs (one earned) and five hits while striking out 11.

Boone Whiting absorbs the loss for the Gents after allowing three runs (two earned) in six innings.

The Golden Eagles will play South Dakota State at 3 p.m. Friday in the second round of the double-elimination tournament.