Dallas Baptist University Athletics

THE LEAD
No. 16 DBU fell 7-3 to the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles on Sunday at J.L. Johnson Stadium in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to even the series between the two teams.  After jumping out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning, DBU (9-5) was unable to protect the lead, as Oral Roberts (9-5) struck for two runs in the second and never trailed the rest of the way.  The Patriots would threaten in their half of the ninth, bringing the tying run to the plate, before Justin McGregor struck out Garrett Wolforth with the  bases loaded to close out the game.
 
After Tim Millard reached second base on an error by ORU centerfielder Nick Rotola, Matt Duce's RBI double put DBU on top 1-0 in the top of the first.  The lead would be short-lived though, as the Golden Eagles struck for two runs in the second to take a 2-1 advantage.  With two outs in the inning, a throwing error by Matt Duce at second allowed Cal Hernandez to score and tie the game.  One batter later, Nick Roark's single to right center put the Golden Eagles on top.
 
After ORU chased Patriots' starter Trevor Conn from the mound in the fourth, a Matt Whatley sacrifice fly and a Noah Cummings single each plated runs, extending the Golden Eagles' lead to 4-1.
 
Kragen Kechely would retire ORU in order in the fifth before running into trouble in the bottom of the sixth, as the Golden Eagles struck for three runs.  A bunt single by Matt Whatley began the scoring for ORU in the sixth, as Kragley's throw to first sailed wide of Logan Sepanek at first and allowed Dylan Synpes to score from second.  After Noah Cummings delivered a sacrifice fly that plated another run, Michael Hungate delivered a base knock to right that made it 7-2, Golden Eagles.
 
Still trailing by five runs going to the top of the ninth, Justin McGregor came in relief of ORU starter Josh McMinn, who finished the day with eight solid innings of work and allowed just one earned run.  The Patriots rallied with three consecutive singles off of McGregor before Ray Gaither flied out to right field to bring in Austin Listi from third base. 
 
The Patriots would eventually bring the tying run to the plate after Camden Duzenack reached base on an error by ORU shortstop Dylan Snypes.  With two out and the bases loaded, McGregor was able to close out the game by striking out Garrett Wolforth with the bases loaded.
 
THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
- DBU will now play a deciding game in the series finale for the fourth straight weekend.
- ORU's win over the Patriots is their first in Tulsa, Oklahoma, since March 22, 2008, and snaps an eight-game win streak by DBU over the Golden Eagles at J.L. Johnson Stadium.
- The two teams accounted for only two extra base hits, as Matt Duce doubled for DBU, while Dylan Snypes delivered a double for ORU.
 
DBU HEAD COACH DAN HEEFNER ON TODAY'S LOSS
"Sometimes the scoreboard doesn't really say what happened throughout the game.  I thought our pitchers did a good job of filling up the zone and we squared up some baseballs.  We had a couple of costly errors though and we definitely have to clean those up going forward."
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
6 - Of the 16 hits that the Golden Eagles churned out, six were infield singles.
2 - A pair of Patriot errors proved to be costly in the four-run loss.
4 - Matt Duce and Ray Gaither combined for four of DBU's eight hits.
 
UP NEXT
DBU and Oral Roberts meet in the rubber-match of the series finale on Monday.  First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.