ORU Splits Double Header, Sets Records in First Game

Originally Published: Apr 30, 2010 10:34 PM CDT

Gerald Goodridge
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

FORT WAYNE, Indiana -- Oral Roberts dominated Indiana University-Purdue University at Fort Wayne in the first half of a doubleheader 34-10, but dropped the second game 9-7.

The first game was an offensive showcase for the Golden Eagles (23-18, 11-3) as they set single-game team records for runs, hits, and runs in an inning with 15 in the eighth.

The hit parade started early with a Seth Furmanek two-run home run in the top of the first inning. Tyler Saladino added to the lead with a grand slam in the second to give ORU a 6-0 lead.

IPFW’s (11-30, 7-7) Shaun VanDriessche put the Mastodons on the board in the bottom of the second with a solo home run, but ORU’s offensive onslaught continued in the third.

Brett Sowers and Saladino both hit two-run home runs, while Nick Baligod and Furmanek both added solo home runs to the seven-run third inning.

That ended Mastodon pitcher Nick Optiz’ (3-3) day after giving up 13 earned runs and 15 hits in just three innings of work.

Tyler Garewal and Baligod both hit three-run home runs in the top of the fourth to push the lead to 18 runs.

The Mastodons scored nine unanswered runs between the fourth and seventh innings to close the gap to single digits and keep the game alive.

ORU’s Jameson Dunn’s (3-1) night came to an end in the seventh after striking out 12 of the 33 batters he faced and giving up 10 earned runs on 12 hits.

The Golden Eagles put the game out of reach in the top of the eighth after exploding for 15 runs in the eighth. Jeremiah Mejia hit his first career home run – a three-run shot – to start the scoring barrage. Sowers recorded four RBIs with two, two-run hits, while Bennett Pickar drove in three and Saladino added two on an RBI single. P.J. Sequeria and Baligod added RBIs to ORU’s big inning.

Oral Roberts bats stayed hot in the second game, and the Golden Eagles struck in the first inning. With two outs, Sowers hit a three-run double to right center to bring Chris Elder, Baligod and Saladino home.

IPFW responded with six unanswered runs, including a two-run home run that gave them a 6-3 lead.

The Mastodons scored an unearned run in the sixth and VanDriessche started the seventh with a solo home run to push the lead to 8-4. Will Faulkner added one more to the lead with an RBI single to bring Kurt Dudley home.

Bryce Smolen (5-3) survived 6.1 innings of service, after giving up 13 hits and nine runs.

Matt Antos (2-5) was credited with the win for the second game, pitching 7.2 innings, while giving up 13 hits, seven runs and striking out 10.

The Golden Eagles and the Mastodons finish their weekend series with a doubleheader on Saturday.