THE RUNDOWN
What appeared at first glance to be another offensive duel between DBU (7-4) and Oral Roberts (5-6) turned into a pitching battle on Saturday afternoon at Horner Ballpark, as DBU fell to ORU 8-6. After 11 combined runs were scored through the first four innings, just three were added in the remainder of the game.
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Saturday had a wild start, as the Golden Eagles scored four runs on as many hits and a pair of errors. With runners on first and second, Wailele Kane-Yates and Cooper Kelly hit back-to-back RBI singles, and Will Edmunson followed with an RBI groundout. Two batters later, Martell Davis hit a grounder to reach first on a fielder's choice and scored Kelly from third to complete a four-spot to commence the afternoon.
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But the Patriots answered immediately in the home half of the first.
Keaton Grady ignited the offense with a leadoff double to the corner of right field and set up
Jake Bennett for a two-run 463-foot moonshot that cleared the left-field fence and halved the ORU lead. Moments later,
Dylan Cupp stepped to the plate with
Mac Rose on first and
Ben Tryon on third. The Patriot shortstop lifted a fly ball to right field that was misplayed by Edmunson, allowing Cupp to reach first, Rose to take second, and Tryon to touch home. Two batters later,
Chayton Krauss singled up the middle to score Rose from second and tie the game at four.
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The Golden Eagles put up a run in the second on an RBI single by Cooper Combs, and tacked on two more via productive outs in the fourth to take the lead back by three. On the bump, ORU starter Conner Johnson kept the DBU offense at bay, but the Patriots broke through in the sixth.
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With one gone,
Landon Underhill worked a walk, and Krauss took his turn at the dish. The burly righty sent a fly ball to the opposite field for a two-run shot, bringing the game to a one-run deficit for the Patriots.
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The Patriots threatened again in the bottom of the eighth, putting runners on second and third with one out, but did not convert. Despite a strong showing from the Patriot bullpen (one run in 5.1 innings), the ORU topped DBU 8-6, adding an insurance tally in the ninth.
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THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
- The DBU bullpen trio of
Michael Benzor,
Armani Knipper, and
Liam Watt threw 5.1 innings and 6 strikeouts against 19 batters, giving up only 2 walks, 2 hits, and 1 run.
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Chayton Krauss went 2-for-4 on Saturday with a home run and three RBI, his first multi-RBI game of the season.
- ORU's win snaps a three-game winning streak for the Patriots against the Golden Eagles.
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INSIDE THE NUMBERS
1 - The DBU pitching staff surrendered only one unintentional walk on Saturday, tying its season-best.
4 - The Patriots' four-run first inning is their highest scoring opening frame of the season.
6 -
Michael Benzor faced the minimum six batters in his outing.
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ON DECK
DBU completes its four-game weekend on Sunday against Air Force. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. at Horner Ballpark.
