ORU starter Kurt Giller took a no-hitter into the seventh
inning before tossing a complete game shutout to help the visiting
Golden Eagles take a 6-0 win over SUU at Thunderbird Park on Thursday.
The SUU defense turned in a solid performance behind a strong outing by
starting pitcher Chase Rezac, but the Thunderbirds were unable to get on
the scoreboard after recording just three hits and leaving seven
runners on base.
“I give credit to Rezac for getting ground balls, and Ricker made a nice
play spinning to his left for that bang-bang throw,” said interim coach
Clayton Carson of the three double-plays turned by the T-Birds. “I also
felt like we had some good contact considering that their pitcher was
up in the nineties and throwing a hard slide piece.”
Oral Roberts notched its first run of the game in the top of the second
when third baseman Jose Trevino hit a lead-off single, advanced to
second on a walk and then came around to score on an RBI double off the
bat of Bennett Pickar. The score remained 1-0 in favor of the visitors
until the Nate Goro put a two-run RBI single into centerfield in the
sixth inning to extend the advantage to three.
The Thunderbirds had a chance to start a rally in the following frame as
Mitchell Kauweloa and Chaisson Low started the seventh with
back-to-back singles to give SUU two runners on with nobody out. ORU was
able to record three-straight outs on a fielder’s choice, ground out
and fly out to get out of the inning unscathed.
The Golden Eagles would then add three insurance runs in the top of the
eighth to double their advantage to 6-0. Brandon Healy began the scoring
with an RBI single to right and Goro laid down a sacrifice bunt to
bring Brandon King in from third for the second run of the inning. In
the next at bat Logan Domenico hit an infield single to second base and
it appeared that the Thunderbirds had Brandon Healy caught between third
and home for the final out of the inning, but a throw from bounced off
the ORU designated hitter allowing him to cross the plate for the sixth
and final run of the game.
Junior right-hander Kurt Giller allowed just three hits and recorded six
strikeouts while throwing a complete game to earn his second win of the
season for the Golden Eagles and now holds a record of 2-4. SUU starter
Chase Rezac spread three runs and 10 hits over six innings to fall to
2-4 with the loss.
Oral Roberts shortstop Nate Goro drove in three runs for the Golden
Eagles who also got an RBI from Pickar and Healy. Senior first baseman
Mitchell Kauweloa led Southern Utah with two hits on the day.
The Thunderbirds and Golden Eagles will continue their series with a doubleheader set to begin tomorrow at 12 p.m.
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