Feb. 25, 2011

Box Score

TULSA, Okla. - The road woes continued Friday for the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville baseball team. Oral Roberts defeated SIUE 13-5 in the opener of a three-game series at ORU's J.L. Johnson Stadium.

The Cougars dropped to 0-4 to start the season. All four losses have come on the road. Oral Roberts improved to 2-3 with the win.

The Golden Eagles banged out 20 hits against four Cougars pitchers.

SIUE took an early lead, capitalizing on an error, scoring twice in the top of the second inning to go up 2-0. Joel Greatting and Devin Caldwell scored after reaching on back-to-back singles to start the inning.

The Eagles responded with three runs in the bottom of the third inning against SIUE starter Josh Malin. Brandon King drilled a two-run home run for ORU. Malin allowed four runs on eight hits in 3.1 innings and did not figure into the decision.

In the top of the fourth, James Vazquez singled to drive home Zach Hawkins, who had singled with one out in the inning. Zach Hawkins' run tied the score at three.

Vazquez led the way offensively, going 3 for 5 with an RBI. Zach Hawkins was 2 for 3 with an RBI and a run.

ORU briefly regained the lead with a pair of runs in the fourth, before the Cougars evened the score again with two runs in the top of the fifth inning. Brett Keeler drove home Greatting with a double. Greatting had reached earlier in the inning on a fielder's choice.

The Golden Eagles then scored a single run in the sixth inning, six runs in the seventh inning and another in the eighth for the final margin. Chris Williams capped the six-run seventh, belting a grand slam off reliever Josh Hoguet.

Hoguet also did not get a decision. He allowed six runs on five hits in 1.1 innings of work.

Williams finished 3 for 5 with the slam and five RBIs for ORU.

Ryan Daniels, 0-1, suffered the loss for the Cougars. Daniels worked 2.1 innings, allowing two runs on five hits.

The Cougars and Eagles continue the series with a 2 p.m. game Saturday in Tulsa.