Golden Eagles win Summit League tournament
TULSA — The Oral Roberts University baseball team claimed their 22nd Summit League Baseball Tournament Title by routing Northern Colorado 11-4 on Saturday at J.L. Johnson Stadium to secure the fourth tournament threepeat in the league history as well as secure a spot in the NCAA Tournament.
TULSA — The Oral Roberts University baseball team claimed their 22nd Summit League Baseball Tournament Title by routing Northern Colorado 11-4 on Saturday at J.L. Johnson Stadium to secure the fourth tournament threepeat in the league history as well as secure a spot in the NCAA Tournament.
Slated as the road team for the Saturday finale, the Golden Eagles (27-30-1) set the tone with two two-run homers courtesy of Elijah Rodriguez and Drew Stahl knocking UNC’s starter out of the game in the first inning.
The Bears however countered in their half of the inning, driving three runs of their own causing ORU having to turn to Caleb Isaacs out of the bullpen.
In his last game at J.L. Johnson Stadium, the lefty from Edmond cemented his name further in the rich history of ORU postseason heroes as Isaacs escaped the jam and spun a career-high 5.1 innings without giving up an earned run.
The Golden Eagles went through the conference tournament unscathed. After opening the tournament with a win over North Dakota State, they knocked off UNC 14-0 on Thursday to make the tournament title game.
In Thursday’s victory over Northern Colorado, Brooks Fowler took the mound for the Golden Eagles and took a nohitter into the sixth fanning eight Bears while timely at bats from Martel Davis and Sam Thompson gave ORU a 2-0 lead.
While Northern Colorado was able to escape multiple jams to limit damage, ORU would make up for their missed opportunities and then some, pouring on a season-high 12 runs in an inning.
Davis got the scoring started with a single to left center, followed by an RBI walk from Alex Rodgers with the bases loaded. Hits from Rodriguez, Holden Breeze and Stahl drove in four more runs to extend the lead to nine.
Davis once again delivered for the Golden Eagles putting ORU up double digits.
However, ORU was not done yet as David drove a first-pitch fastball over the left-field fence for a three-run homer.
Then entering the game as a pinch-hitter, Kole Dudding worked a full count then launched his first home run of his career to put ORU up 14-0.
The Golden Eagles will begin their postseason run, which they hope ends back at Omaha, Neb., for the College World Series, with a match-up with Norman Regional Tournament host Oklahoma Sooners at 6 p.m. Friday at L. Dale Mitchell Park. Duke and Connecticut will be the other two teams in the Norman Regional Tournament.
