The Basics
2023 NCAA College World Series
Score: Oral Roberts 6 – TCU 5
Records: ORU (52-12), TCU (42-23)
Location: Omaha, Neb. (Charles Schwab Field)
Win: Cade Denton (3-1) | Loss: Luke Savage (5-4)
 
OMAHA, Neb. – Blaze Brothers hit a go-ahead three-run homer in the ninth as the Oral Roberts baseball team rallied to defeat TCU, 6-5, Friday afternoon in the opening game of the 2023 NCAA College World Series from Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Nebraska.

The victory marked the Golden Eagles' second in program history at the College World Series and their 24th in the last 25 games. ORU also set a new program record (D1-era) for wins in a season with 52.

Trailing 5-2 heading into the top of the ninth, Mac McCroskey got things going with an infield leadoff single. The redshirt senior later came around to score on an RBI single from Drew Stahl, trimming the deficit to 5-3. With two on and one out, Brothers belted a three-run shot over the left field bullpen to put the Golden Eagles back in front for good, 6-5. 

The long ball marked the 12th of the season for the senior. 

In the bottom half of the ninth, TCU threatened as they put two on with only one out but closer Cade Denton responded with a strikeout and a flyout to seal the victory for ORU.

Denton earned the win to improve to 3-1 on the season after tossing 1.2 innings of one-run baseball and striking out two. Starter Jakob Hall dealt five strong innings, allowing only two runs and striking out three.

Justin Quinn led all players with a 4-for-5 performance at the dish to extend his hitting streak to 17 games. McCroskey joined Quinn with a multi-hit performance after going 2-for-4 with a two-run homer.

After three scoreless frames, the Horned Frogs jumped in front first with a solo homer to right-center.

The Golden Eagles responded in the sixth as McCroskey lifted a two-run opposite-field homer to right, putting ORU in front, 2-1. McCroskey's long ball was his 14th of the season and first since May 2.

TCU answered in the bottom half of the frame with an RBI single to even the score at 2-2.

In the eighth, the Horned Frogs loaded the bases with only one out and pushed across three runs to take a 5-2 lead. 

Inside the Box Score
- ORU totaled six runs on 11 hits.
- Quinn matched his career-high for hits with four in the win.
- The multi-hit performance marked his 22nd of the year.
- McCroskey logged his 25th multi-hit performance of the season after going 2-for-4 at the plate.
- Hall delivered five strong innings of two-run baseball and struck out three.
- Dalton Patten and Caleb Isaacs also made appearances in relief.
- Denton struck out two in 1.2 innings of work. 

Notes
- ORU is making its second College World Series appearance (1978).
- The victory marked the second in program history for the Golden Eagles at the College World Series.
- With the win, ORU set a new program record (D1-era) for wins in a season.
- The Golden Eagles have won 24 of their last 25 contests and are 42-4 in the last 46 games.
- Friday's contest marked the 46th meeting all-time between the two clubs.
- With the victory, the Golden Eagles are 27-19 all-time against the Horned Frogs.
- Jonah Cox's 47-game hit streak, the third-longest in NCAA history, came to an end.
- Quinn extended his hit streak to 17 games.
- McCroskey has now reached base safely in 18 straight games.
- Brothers pushed his on-base streak to 12 games.
- Catcher Jacob Godman stretched his on-base streak to 12 games.

Up Next
The Golden Eagles will face the winner between Florida and Virginia on Sunday at 6 p.m. from Charles Schwab Field.

For the latest information on ORU Baseball, follow the Golden Eagles on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, or go to www.ORUAthletics.com. Fans can also receive updates on the team by downloading the ORU Athletics app from the App Store or Google Play Store.

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