ORU Falls in Regular Season Finale

Originally Published: May 22, 2010 6:30 PM CDT

Andrew Topps
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

TULSA, Oklahoma -- Oral Roberts committed seven errors and stranded 14 runners in its regular-season ending 8-3 defeat to North Dakota State Saturday. The Golden Eagles finish the regular season 32-25 overall and 19-9 in Summit League play.

The loss also prevented ORU from claiming its 12th straight outright conference regular season title. The Golden Eagles can grab a share of the championship, pending the outcome of the South Dakota State-Western Illinois series.

NDSU’s Tim Jallen led off the game with a single, ORU shortstop Tyler Saladino muffed a double play ball. Zach Wentz took advantage of the miscue with a three-run homer as the Bison grabbed a 3-0 lead.

Nick Baligod drove in Tyler Garewal with a single in the bottom of the first as ORU closed to within 3-1, but the Bison picked up another unearned run in the top of the second. ORU starting pitcher Mark Guest (2-4) dropped a toss from first baseman P.J. Sequeira on a bunt attempt to start the inning. Casper eventually scored on a single by Wentz as the Bison increased their lead to 4-1.

North Dakota State (22-30, 11-16) scored three runs int eh fifth to take a 7-1 advantage. Sean Johnson, who relieved Guest to start the third, walked the lead-off batter then threw wildly to first on a sacrifice bunt attempt, putting runners at second and third with no out. Michael Riewer singled in the first run for a 5-1 lead.

Reliever Jameson Dunn gave up a walk to loaded the bases, then second baseman Robert Barbosa threw away a potential double play ball, allowing two more runs to score.

Saladino hit an RBI single in the bottom of the sixth to make it 7-2. Riewer blasted a solo home run in the seventh to make it 8-2, and ORU scratched across its final run in the seventh when Barbosa scored on a wild pitch.

Guest suffered the loss after allowing four runs (two earned) in two innings.

Colby Tognetti (3-2) picked up the win with 2.0 innings of shutout relief.

The Golden Eagles will take on Centenary at 7 p.m. Thursday in the opening round of the Summit League Tournament in Tulsa.