ORU turned down shot at WAC two years ago

(Tulsa-AP) -- Would you believe that Oral Roberts University turned down a chance to have its baseball team play in the Western Athletic Conference? <br><br>Well, two years ago it did. <br><br>That's

Friday, May 5th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Tulsa-AP) -- Would you believe that Oral Roberts University turned down a chance to have its baseball team play in the Western Athletic Conference?

Well, two years ago it did.

That's when eight WAC schools left to form the Mountain West Conference, leaving the bare bones WAC with just five baseball teams. The conference needed a sixth so it would have an automatic N-C-A-A tournament bid. T-C-U and Rice put O-R-U at the top of the list.

But O-R-U was starting its second year in the Mid-Continent Conference, after signing a five-year commitment to the league.

The Golden Eagles are cleaning up in the Mid-Con this year, with an 18-and-1 league record. But the team also hasn't been ranked all year because of its mediocre conference.

Nonetheless, O-R-U officials say they're planning to stay put.