USI loses lead, falls to ORU, 9-8
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Next Game: at Oral Roberts University • 3/8/2025 | 2 p.m.
TULSA, Okla. – University of Southern Indiana Baseball could not hold onto an early lead and fell to Oral Roberts University, 9-8, Friday evening at J.L. Johnson Stadium in Tulsa, Oklahoma. USI is 6-6 overall in 2025, while ORU goes 7-4 this year.
USI opened the game with a four-run first inning to lead 4-0. Junior rightfielder Patrick McLellan started the rally with a one-out triple and scored on a sac fly by junior designated hitter Cole Kitchens.
USI junior first baseman Kannon Coakley scored the second run on a RBI single by sophomore third baseman Parker Martin. Junior leftfielder BJ Banyon and sophomore second baseman Anthony Umbach finished the scoring with RBI singles.
The Screaming Eagles pushed the lead to 7-0 with three more in the second inning. McLellan extended the lead to 5-0 with a RBI-single, while the lead went 6-0 on a sac fly by Coakley. Junior shortstop Clayton Slack drove in the final run of the frame with the fifth RBI-single of the game.
ORU started to chip away at the margin with three runs in the bottom of the second and trailed, 7-3. The 7-3 score would stand until the bottom of the seventh when the Golden Eagles scored to close the gap to 7-4.
The Golden Eagles took their first lead of the game and pulled in front for good with a five-run eighth, 9-7. Kitchens pulled the Screaming Eagles back to within one run, 9-8, with his second home run of the season.
Slack would give the Screaming Eagles a chance with a one-out single and advanced to second on a passed ball, but would be stranded at second as ORU closed out the 9-8 final score.
At the plate, USI had five players with two hits each and was led by Martin. Martin was two-for-five with two RBIs.
On the mound, sophomore right-hander Aaron Rubio took the loss in relief. Rubio (1-1) allowed four runs on four hits in one-third of an inning of work.
USI junior right-hander Andres Gonzalez started and received a no-decision. Gonzalez allowed three runs, one earned, on three hits and three walks. He also struck out four in four innings of work.
Up Next for the Eagles:
USI and ORU continue the series Saturday at 2 p.m. before the squads complete the three-game set Sunday at 1 p.m.
Due to the ever-changing weather in March, USI encourages fans to watch for potential schedule changes on USIScreamingEagles.com, X, and Facebook.
