The Oral Roberts University baseball team secured its first win of the season with a 1-0 shutout against Southern Illinois at Chapman Park in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The teams are now tied at one win each in the series, with the deciding game scheduled for Sunday, February 15.
Nathan Love started on the mound for Oral Roberts and pitched five scoreless innings, allowing three hits, walking three batters, and striking out four. Jack Hill earned the win by pitching two hitless innings in relief and walking one. Maddox Thornton closed out the game for a save, giving up just one hit and one walk while striking out two.
Both teams remained scoreless through five innings. ORU managed only one hit during that span—a single by Cooper Combs in the fourth inning—while SIU recorded three hits across those innings.
The decisive run came in the sixth inning. Combs walked, advanced to third base on a double from Makani Tanaka, and scored when Keaton Campbell grounded out.
SIU threatened in the eighth inning by putting two runners on base due to a single and an error. Both advanced to third after Hudson Ellis prevented a bases-loading single. Following another Saluki reaching base, Thornton struck out the final batter to preserve ORU’s lead.
Troy Shepard took the loss for SIU after pitching three innings and allowing one run on one hit with two walks and one strikeout. Starting pitcher Maede Johnson threw five innings for SIU, allowing just one hit along with three walks and two strikeouts.
For more updates about Oral Roberts baseball, fans can follow their social media channels or visit their official athletics website at www.ORUAthletics.com.
