FIU Sweeps Oral Roberts in Baseball

Originally Published: Feb 28, 2010 6:21 PM CDT

Oklahoma Sports Staff

MIAMI, Florida -- FIU completed a three-game sweep of Oral Roberts by rallying for a 7-6 win on Sunday.

ORU jumped out to a 5-2 lead with a Chris Elder three-run home run in the top of the seventh inning, but the Golden Eagles (0-3) couldn’t hang on to the lead. Mark Guest, who relieved starter Seth Furmanek in the fifth inning, allowed a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh.

FIU tied the game in the bottom of the eighth when T.J. Shantz reached on a third strike passed ball and later scored on a wild pitch by reliever Jared Schlehuber.

The game remained tied through nine innings before the Golden Eagles scored in the top of the 10th. ORU took the lead when pinch runner Nikko Wong scored on an error by the third baseman.

Florida International would storm back once again in the bottom half of the 10th, though. Tim Jobe drew a lead-off walk from Alec Smith (0-1), who came on in the bottom of the ninth. After a single and a wild pitch, Smith intentionally walked Jose Behar to load the bases with no outs.

R.J. Davis relived Smith and walked a pinch hitter to force home the tying run. Lammar Guy followed with a sacrifice fly to give FIU a 7-6 victory.

ORU banged out 12 hits on the day as Sowers, Elder and Furmanek had two hits apiece. Furmanek belted a solo home run leading off the second inning.

The Golden Eagles return to action when they host Central Arkansas on Tuesday at 3 p.m.