ORU SWEEPS 3 GAMES AGAINST S. INDIANA
Oral Roberts baseball team swept a three-game series against Southern Indiana over the weekend, at Chapman Park.
Southern Indiana opened the series on Friday night with a scoring barrage, plating four runs in the first inning and three in the second inning. The Screaming Eagles led 7-0 before ORU was able to score three runs in the bottom of the second inning.
Following a single run in the seventh inning, ORU scored five in the eighth, and went on to win the game 9-8.
On Saturday, ORU was led by pitching, as right-handed starter Nathan Love posted 6.1 scoreless innings. He surrendered only seven hits, one walk, and struck out six on the way to his second win of the season, a 4-2 victory over USI.
Both teams were scoreless through five innings, then ORU scored four runs in the sixth inning. ISU threatened with a pair of runs in the top of the ninth, but the Golden Eagles were able to hang on for the win.
In the final game on Sunday, USI opened the scoring in the top of the first with a pair of runs, but ORU answered with two runs in the bottom of each of the first three innings and the Golden Eagles led 6-2 after three innings.
After USI scored two runs in the top of the fifth, ORU added a single run in the bottom half of the inning and hung on for a 7-6 victory, and a sweep of the weekend series.
ORU will be home again this weekend to begin Summit League play against North Dakota State, Friday at 6:00 p.m., Saturday at 2:00 p.m. and Sunday at 1:00 p.m.
OU SWEEPS SAM HOUSTON
No. 13 Oklahoma took game one of the three-game set, 6-5, Friday night over Sam Houston at L. Dale Mithcell Park.
Sooners starting pitcher Kyson Witherspoon had a career-high tying 12 strikeouts in five innings of work, including 10 consecutive batters. For Witherspoon, it was his fourth win in four starts this season.
Rain on Saturday forced the two teams to play a double-header on Sunday, and the Sooners prevailed to sweep the series.
The Sooners took the first game 7-3 and won the nightcap 9-7 in 7 innings.
The offense was powered by a combined three home runs on the day from juniors Easton Carmichael and Dawson Willis and sophomore Jaxon Willits. The pitching staff utilized nine arms on the day. Sophomore starter Cameron Johnson struck out a career-high eight and earned the win in the first game before sophomore reliever Gavyn Jones got his first win of the season in game two.
Sam Houston had a 5-1 lead in the top of the fourth inning but the Sooners broke the game open with seven runs in the bottom of the fourth and cruised to victory.
The Sooners travel to South Carolina for a three-game series against the Gamecocks, Friday through Sunday.
OSU WINS TWO OUT OF THREE
Oklahoma State lost game one of the series on Friday, then swept a double-header on Sunday to beat Illinois State, two games to one in the weekend series in Stillwater.
Oklahoma State lost its series opener against Illinois State, 12-6, Friday night at O’Brate Stadium.
Colin Brueggemann was a bright spot for the Pokes offensively in the opener, collecting two hits and three RBIs, while Nolan Schubart continued his great start to the season with a 2-for-3 effort that included a pair of walks.
Gabe Davis took the mound to start for the Cowboys and took the loss as he pitched two innings, allowing three runs, one earned, on one hit and three walks. Davis also hit a pair of Redbirds.
On Sunday, Oklahoma State run-ruled Illinois State in both games of the double header to clinch the series.
The 14th-ranked Cowboys took the opener by a 16-1 count before posting an 18-1 victory in the nightcap; both games went seven innings. OSU’s record improved to 9-6, while Illinois State is now 3-10.
OSU starting pitchers Harrison Bodendorf and Hunter Watkins continued their winning ways as Bodendorf ran his record to 4-0 and Watkins moved to 3-0.
Offensively, Colin Brueggemann continued his tear as he went 5-for-6 on the day with two homers and seven RBIs and extended his hitting streak to 14 games.
Nolan Schubart drove in seven runs and had four hits in the double-header, including a grand slam.
OSU opens the Big 12 Conference schedule with a weekend series against West Virginia at O’Brate Stadium, Friday and Saturday at 6:00 p.m. and Sunday at 1:00 p.m.