Saturday, April 30, 2005

Tulsa, Okla. - Oral Roberts hit three home runs in the first game and received a stellar pitching performance in the nightcap to sweep a Mid-Continent Conference twinbill from Valpo by the scores of 7-2 and 2-0. Brian Rzepka had three hits on the day for the Crusaders.

Kevin Kutansky went 2-for-4 with an RBI in the opener and Matt Augustine produced the other RBI.

In the first game, Valpo (11-23, 4-8 Mid-Con) grabbed a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Rzepka led off with a double down the right field line and Kevin Perri was hit by a pitch. With one out, Kutansky singled through the right side, plating Rzepka and advancing Perri to third. Augustine followed with a sacrifice fly to right field.

ORU (24-16, 9-1) responded with a four-run first, ignited by two home runs. Michael Hollimon led off with a homer over the right field wall. After a walk and a shortstop error, Rene Recio belted a three-run shot to center field.

In the fifth, Recio's fielder's choice scored John Tackett, who began the frame with a single. Travis DeBondt's two-run roundtripper in the eighth accounted for the final margin.

Harvey Yergin (2-6) went the distance for Valpo, allowing four earned runs on six hits, while fanning five and walking five. Taylor McIntyre (4-6) earned the victory, yielding two runs on seven hits. The lefthander struck out three and walked two. Daniel Greenwalt pitched 2 hitless and scoreless innings for his third save.

The nightcap featured pitching as ORU's Dennis Bigley (7-3) limited the Crusaders to four hits. The senior righthander struck out seven and did not allow a walk.

Valpo's Dallas Cawiezell (1-1) was solid, allowing two runs on six hits in 5 2/3 innings. The freshman righty fanned one and issued two walks.

The Golden Eagles scored both of their runs in the second inning with two outs. Following singles by Chris Sweeney and Brian Aguailar, Hollimon delivered a two-run double to left center.

The two teams will play a doubleheader Sunday beginning at noon.