ORU Golden Eagles Fall to No. 4 TCU Horned Frogs

Originally Published: Mar 16, 2010 11:5 PM CDT

Stephany Speck
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

TULSA, Oklahoma -- The Oral Roberts Golden Eagles started off strong, but couldn’t finish, falling to the No. 4 TCU Horned Frogs Tuesday, 6-4.

ORU jumped out to an early lead in the first inning. Joey Winiecki singled with a bunt and stole second, followed by Nick Baligod reaching first on a TCU error.

With Winiecki on second and Baligod on first, Tyler Saladino homered, earning three runs for the Golden Eagles.

Chris Elder struck out in the next at bat, followed by a double by Seth Furmanek to right center field. He advanced to third base after a wild pitch by Greg Holle.

P.J. Sequeira grounded to second, as Furmanek earned another run for ORU. Colby Price struck out to end the inning, but the Golden Eagles had a 4-0 lead.

The Horned Frogs answered back in the third inning. Kyle Von Tungeln struck out to open the inning, but Bryan Holaday followed with a line drive down right field line and reached second base.

Jason Coats followed with a single, while Holaday earned the Horned Frogs’ first run of the game. Matt Curry doubled to right field.

Both Curry and Coats advanced a base due to an ORU error. Holle walked Josh Elander to load the bases with Jimmie Pharr at bat.

Pharr singled, hitting Curry home and earning a run for TCU.

Jerome Pena reached first on another ORU error, while Pharr advanced to second and Elander scored, tying the game at 4-4.

The Horned Frogs took a one-run lead after Pharr scored following a pop fly by Aaron Schultz.

Taylor Featherson grounded out to end the inning with TCU up, 5-4.

The game remained scoreless again until the top of the eighth, when TCU sealed ORU’s fate with another run.

The Golden Eagles will travel to California to face UCLA March 19 at 8 p.m.