WICHITA, Kan. –- No. 8 Wichita State had a pair of two
five-run innings as the Shockers withstood the rally by Oral
Roberts University to go on and defeat the Golden Eagles, 10-8.
With the win, the Shockers improved to 18-0 at home and 22-3 on the
season as ORU fell to 3-4 on the road and 16-7 overall.
After starter
Kelly Minissale (0-1) started smoothly, the
senior left-hander struggled in the second inning as the Shockers
grabbed a 5-0 lead. WSU sent 10 batters to the plate in the frame
as five different hitters recorded an RBI.
The Golden Eagles began to chip into Wichita State's lead in their
next at-bat by scoring a run in the third to trim the lead to 5-1.
Juan Martinez and Brendan
Duffy led off with consecutive hits to start the inning with
Duffy's double moving Martinez to third. Martinez was plated for
ORU's first run of the night on a RBI ground out by Kelly
Minissale.
Minissale rebounded by working a three-up, three-down bottom of
the third to keep the Golden Eagles into the game.
ORU plated two more runs in the fourth, making it a 5-3 ball game.
Michael Notaro roped a double to left center as
the Golden Eagles threatened WSU's Clint Maune with runners on
second and third.
Ryan Groth recorded an RBI groundout and Martinez
produced an RBI two-out single in the frame.
Minissale remained solid on the mound as the senior got out of the
next two innings without allowing a base runner as the hurler
retired 10 consecutive batters.
The Golden Eagles were able to produce base runners the next two
innings, but were unable to cut into the Shocker 5-3 lead.
Wichita State increased their lead off reliever Carlos
Luna in the seventh, scoring five runs off three hits for a
10-3 advantage.
ORU did not hang their heads for long though as the Golden Eagles
posted five runs of their own in the top of the eighth trimming
WSU's lead to 10-8. Both Duffy and Minissale delivered clutch
two-run hits while Notaro added an RBI sacrifice fly.
Wichita State's Khol Nanney worked three scoreless innings of
relief to improve to 4-0 on the year and Dusty Coleman worked the
ninth for the Shockers to earn his first save.
Minissale led the squad with three RBI on a 1-for-5 effort while
Duffy went 2-for-5 with a run scored and two RBI.
Minissale finished with a career-high five solid innings pitched,
scattering six hits and two strikeouts while allowing five earned
runs.
ORU returns to Tulsa to begin Summit League play this weekend
against North Dakota State at J.L. Johnson Stadium. First pitch for
the series is slated for Friday at 7 p.m.
--ORU--
