ORU Sports
Scott Slarks
TULSA, Okla. – The Oral Roberts baseball team used five home runs to pick up its fourth-straight win, a 7-4 mid-week victory over Wichita State Tuesday night at J.L. Johnson Stadium for Vs. Cancer Night as the program raises funds and awareness for childhood cancers (Donate Here).
With a strong wind blowing to right field, the Golden Eagles capitalized by launching five, solo home runs on a night where they totaled 10 hits, nine of which went for extra bases. Cal Hernandez led the offense going 2-for-3 as all nine starters in the batting order recorded a hit.
The ORU pitching staff, led by starter Logan Michaels, and its defense came through clutch in the win over the Shockers. All four pitchers used in the ballgame turned in fantastic outings as Michaels threw five innings to get his second victory of the year. Taylor Varnell, Bryce Howe, and Kyler Stout combined to throw the final four innings holding Wichita State to one run on four hits with five strikeouts.
Quote of the Game
“I thought we played well in a lot of different areas. Obviously, to get five home runs, that was the difference. We got really good work on the mound as Logan was sharp for his five innings. We made a couple really good defensively plays, Cal was outstanding down at third base, so I thought it was a well-rounded, well-played game on both sides.” – Head Coach Ryan Folmar
Turning Point
The Shockers used three runs in the top of the fourth to turn a two-run deficit into a one-run lead over the Golden Eagles. ORU responded back in the bottom of the fifth as Trevor McCutchin blasted his fourth home run in the last eight games to even the score, 3-3. After Hernandez lined a two-out double into right, Dylan Snypesdelivered the go-ahead run driving a triple into the gap in right center and ORU never gave up the lead again.
Inside the Box Score
– Tuesday marked the first time in program history where the Golden Eagles finished a game with exactly five home runs. Sam Grellner and Brent Williams went back-to-back sending solo shots over the fence for ORU leading the bottom of the sixth. It was the third time this season the Golden Eagles have hit back-to-back home runs.
– Nick Roark, the second batter of the game for ORU, gave the home side a 1-0 lead pulling a homer to right and Hernandez doubled the lead with his first home run of the year in the third.
– Snypes sped around the bases for his first triple of the season in the fifth frame. It was the third triple for the Golden Eagles in the past four games after starting the year without any for the first 16 games.
– Hernandez also was brilliant on the defensive side for ORU starting a rare, 5-3-5 double play and made several stop on the hot corner to help his pitching staff.
– Stout took over on the mound for the ninth inning and held the Shockers off the scoreboard for his second save of the season, tying Ryan McCollough for the team lead.
Up Next
The Golden Eagles close their season-long, 11-game homestand hosting South Dakota State for a Summit League series March 24-26 at J.L. Johnson Stadium. The series gets underway Friday night at 6:30 p.m. on ESPN3.