MACOMB, Ill. - Weather has been a factor in each of the first three games of the very competitive series between Oral Roberts and Western Illinois. The start of Saturday's double dip was pushed back an hour until 1 p.m. However, both games were played without delay from that point on. The Purple Army's bats pounded out 13 runs on 11 hits to take game one, 13-5, while the two teams needed extras to settle game two. The Golden Eagles scored four in the top of the ninth inning to go ahead 5-2 and eventually win by that score.
Game One
Zach Sterling (3-2) was strong and minimized the damage against the potent Oral Roberts lineup.
Oral Roberts sent a message right away in the top of the first inning with three runs. The inning was powered by five hits including a double from Chris Elder.
Perhaps showing sign of a much improved team the Leathernecks answered the call in its first at bat with five runs. The inning started with a throwing error on the ORU shortstop which allowed Dan Dispensa to reach. Matt Igara sacrificed Dispensa to second before John Koszulinski singled through the left side. Tom Lilja followed with another single up the middle. Austin Cowen battled in a impressive at bat to draw a walk. Danny Marcuzzo delivered the first big shot of the inning with a double to left field to plate two. Bryan Jordan match Marcuzzo with a two-RBI double that knocked Golden Eagle starter Bryce Smolen from the game after just going 0.1 of an inning. After the first full inning eight runs had scored and five of those belonged to the Leathernecks.
The second inning was more of the same for Western Illinois as Igara and Koszulinksi both wore one on the elbow to bring Lilja to the plate. A passed ball allowed both runners to advance. The Leathernecks' first baseman grounded out to second base but the out was productive as Igara was able to sneak home. A wild pitch sent Koszulinski across the plate for the second and final run of the inning.
The Purple & Gold made it three consecutive innings with runs scored in the third inning with three more to bring the total to 10 unanswered runs. With one out, Bryan Jordan singled to right field before Anthony Kaskadden became the latest Leatherneck to find himself with the laces imprinted on his arm and was awarded first base. Tyler Baratono continued his upswing with a bunt single that drove in Jordan. Igara added two more with a double to right center field. As the game moved to the fourth inning the home team had a 10-3 lead.
Oral Roberts attempted to stage a comeback in the fifth inning with two runs powered by two Western Illinois errors and three hits.
Kaskadden was hit by yet another pitch and advanced to second on a wild pitch. The woes continued for ORU as Kaskadden advance to third on a passed ball. Dispensa drew a walk before Igara drove in a run on a fielder's choice.
Philip Tolman was called from the bullpen and was electric as he would not allow a run and only allowed one hit.
Igara and Cowen both drove in runs in the eighth inning to extend the lead to 13-5. Western was able to collect four doubles in the inning.
Tolman recorded the final three outs in the ninth inning to collect his first save of the season. Tolman went 3.0 innings and struck out three Golden Eagles.
Sterling went 6.0 inning and set down five via the strikeout to pick up his third victory of the season.
Igara collected three RBI during game one with with 2-for-3 performance and also crossed home plate twice. Koszulinski, Marcuzzo and Jordan all drove in two runs to contribute to the offensive explosion.
Game Two
The finale was a tightly competitive contest as Ryan Wachholder toed the rubber for the Leathernecks.
The visitors were the first to deliver any damage as a wild pitch allowed a Golden Eagle to score.
Igara picked up right where he left off in game one with a single to start the bottom of the sixth inning. Koszulinski drew a walk off of the Golden Eagle ace, Alex Gonzalez, before a passed ball allowed both runners to advance. Lilja grounded out to first to allow Igara to score.
Wachholder (0-5) went 8.0 strong innings but ORU eventually got to the Leatherneck starter in the top of the ninth with four runs to take a 5-1 lead.
Cowen started the ninth inning with a double down the left field line. Kaskadden singled to center field to plate Cowen. That would be as close as the Purple & Gold would get as Matt Rush (1-2) would record the final out to secure the win.
Wachholder was saddled with the loss as he allowed three earned runs and struck out four. Travis Pedersen tosses an inning and allowed two earned runs.
Igara, Cowen and Kaskadden all collected two hits in game two and Kaskadden also notched an RBI. Lilja also added an RBI.
Western Illinois will go for the series win tomorrow at noon. Be sure to check out the Rocky Vision audio broadcast beginning at 11:55 a.m.
