The Basics
Score: No. 12 Oral Roberts 12 – Western Illinois 2
Records: No. 12 ORU (42-11, 22-1), Western Illinois (12-39, 8-15)
Location: Macomb, Ill. (Alfred D. Boyer Stadium)
Win: Dalton Patten (3-1) | Loss: Tyler Kapraun (3-7)
 
MACOMB, Ill. – The No. 12 Oral Roberts baseball team claimed its 14th straight win and 10th consecutive series with a 12-2 victory at Western Illinois Friday afternoon from Alfred D. Boyer Stadium.

In relief, Dalton Patten earned the win after tossing 4.1 scoreless frames and striking out four. On the offensive end, Mac McCroskey and Justin Quinn each registered three-hit performances, while Jake McMurray plated a game-best three RBI.

With the bases loaded in the first, McCroskey ripped a two-run double down the left-field line to put the Golden Eagles in front, 2-0. The redshirt senior later scored on a throwing error by the Leathernecks as ORU's lead increased to 3-0.

Western Illinois responded in the bottom half of the frame with an RBI single to trim the lead to 3-1. Due to a passed ball, the run was unearned.

In the third, a throwing error by the Leathernecks allowed Jonah Cox, who reached on a walk, to come around to score, extending the lead to 4-1.

Derek Botaletto, who reached on an error to open the bottom half of the frame, scored the second and final run of the day for Western Illinois on a wild pitch. Due to the error, the run was unearned.

Cox extended his hit streak to 37 games in the fifth with an RBI triple to center that brought around Quinn, who led off the frame with a single. A wild pitch allowed Cox to trot home from third as the Golden Eagle advantage grew to 6-2.

ORU tacked on two more runs in the sixth courtesy of a sac fly from McMurray and an RBI groundout from Cox as the lead stretched to 8-2.

After McCroskey led off the eighth with his third hit of the day and stole second, the redshirt senior came around to score on an RBI single from Holden Breeze. Blaze Brothers and McMurray added two more runs to the Golden Eagle lead, 11-2, with back-to-back sac flies in the frame.

In the ninth, McMurray plated his third run of the day as the senior drove in Parker Ward, who reached on a walk, with an RBI fielder's choice as ORU went on to win 12-2.

Inside the Box Score
- ORU totaled 12 runs on 11 hits and drew eight walks.
- McCroskey and Quinn each registered three hits apiece.
- Quinn scored a game-high three runs.
- Despite not registering a hit, McMurray drove in a game-best three RBI.
- Cox and Matt Hogan each walked twice to lead all players.
- McCroskey swiped his 16th base of the year.
- Brothers registered his 18th steal of the season.
- Ward drew a walk in his lone plate appearance and stole his first base of the year.
- As a staff, ORU struck out nine Leathernecks.
- Joshua Caravalho drew the start and allowed two runs, both unearned, in 3.2 innings of work.
- Reed Ronan and Evan Kowalski each logged scoreless appearances.

Notes
- Friday's contest marked the 110th meeting all-time between the two clubs.
- With the win, ORU improved to 92-18 all-time against Western Illinois and has won 11 straight in the series.
- With the victory, the Golden Eagles have won 14 straight contests, 12 consecutive road games and 10 series in a row.
- Over its last 35 games, ORU is 32-3.
- Cox stretched his hitting streak to 37 games and has recorded a hit in 52 of the 53 games this season. 
- Hogan extended his on-base streak to 25 games.
- Breeze has now reached base safely in 19 straight games.
- McMurray pushed his on-base streak to 18 and made his 135th consecutive start.
- Drew Stahl reached base safely for the 12th straight game, while Quinn extended his streak to 10.

Up Next
The Golden Eagles conclude their 2023 regular season tomorrow at 1 p.m.

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