Habit of winning (TW 5/25/08)

[mickeyb]

By MATT LEVIN World Sports Writer 5/25/2008

Last Modified: 5/25/2008  2:24 AM

ORU captures 11th straight league baseball crown

Besides the smiles and the occasional shouts, it was hard to tell Oral Roberts was winning another conference championship. In the other dugout, Southern Utah whooped and hollered even after the game was out of reach. But the two reactions revealed everything anyone needed to know about both clubs. The Thunderbirds looked like a squad clutching to one fleeting moment. They were up against a team that was all business.

The Golden Eagles (46-12) cruised to their 11th consecutive Summit League championship with a 9-0 shutout on Saturday at J.L. Johnson Stadium in front of 1,450 fans. The reserved celebration that followed showed a team with bigger goals in mind.

"Our first step is to win the conference championships," said ORU head coach Rob Walton. "Second win a regional, super regional and then Omaha. This is just the first step. No reason to dog pile here."

The Golden Eagles made enough noise with their bats, clanging three home runs. ORU starter Jerry Sullivan (9-2) silenced the Thunderbirds' offense, pitching his first complete game in more than a year. The sophomore allowed five hits and tied a career high with 12 strikeouts.

Behind the usual formula of power hitting and shutdown starting pitching, ORU coasted toward another automatic berth in the NCAA baseball championships. In the process, the Eagles defeated a rowdy Southern Utah team searching for its first Summit League title. The loss marked the fifth time the Thunderbirds were knocked from the conference championship by Oral Roberts. The Eagles find out who they face in the college championships at 11:30 a.m. Monday.

"As soon as we put up a few runs," said ORU's Brian Van Kirk, the tournament's MVP, "there was no more chirping out of the dugouts."

Van Kirk began hushing the visitors with a leadoff double in the bottom of the second. A throwing error on a Ryan Groth bunt sent the transfer from Tennessee home. The next inning Van Kirk followed a Ben Petralli two-run homer with a solo shot off Southern Utah starter Kyle Melling.

The Thunderbirds unraveled from there.

In the top half of the fourth, Melling (3-4) took a step out of the dugout and mockingly signaled fair after Southern Utah center fielder Nick Frietas hit a foul ball. Third-base umpire Don King ejected Melling and tossed Thunderbirds' manager David Eldredge after he came out to argue.

David Thompson, who replaced Melling, failed to record an out. He allowed three runs, including a two-run blast to Juan Martinez.

"We've been very good at the plate," Walton said. "One through nine, this is probably our best lineup that we've had here."

Walton said he warned his team about getting emotionally involved with the opposing clubhouse. After the victory, he referred to his players as "silent assassins."

It's a sound analogy for a team that's cool, calm and collected in the face of a championship. Plus, all of Oral Roberts' weapons look like they're working just fine.

"Our pitchers are throwing well," Sullivan said, "Our batters are obviously on fire. I think we're set going into the tournament. We're hot and that's what you want to be."

http://www.tulsaworld.com/sports/colleg ... RUca769672