ORU defeats Oakland twice (May 6, 2007)

[ORUTerry]

ORU defeats Oakland twice

by Staff Reports

5/6/2007

ROCHESTER, Mich. -- Oral Roberts University swept Saturday's doubleheader with Oakland, 8-3 and 8-2, in Mid-Continent Conference play.

In the first game, ORU broke a 3-3 tie in the top of the seventh when Brendan Duffy plated David Genao on a single.

The Golden Eagles tacked on four more runs in the top half of the eighth to increase ORU's lead to 8-3.

Erik Crichton (2-4) relieved starter Jerry Sullivan in the fifth inning and finished the game. Crichton scattered three hits while striking out three in 4 2/3 scoreless innings.

Duffy, Chad Rothford and Brian Van Kirk had three hits each to pace the Golden Eagle attack. Duffy had three RBI and Genao knocked in two runs for ORU (27-15, 10-1 Mid-Con).

In the second game, ORU scored a run in the first and four in the third to open up a 5-0 lead over the Golden Grizzlies (14-28, 1-10). Rothford hit his team-leading 10th home run of the year in the third, scoring Jake Kahaulelio. Adam Younger added a two-run single in the third.

The Golden Eagles increased their lead to 7-0 with a three-run sixth inning. Kahaulelio knocked in his second run of the day and Rothford plated two more runs with a double to right-center field.

Starter Jeremy Hefner had another solid outing for ORU, pitching all seven innings while allowing just two runs.

The righthander struck out 10 batters while scattering six Oakland hits.

Rothford finished the day 6-for-9 with four RBI while Duffy extended his hitting streak to 17 games.

ORU and Oakland play the series finale at 11 a.m. today.