ORU Ace Chapman Shuts Down Hog Bats 5-3

TULSA, Okla. – Oral Roberts rolled out its best pitcher in right-hander Chance Chapman and it paid off with a 5-3 win in front of 2,019 fans at J.L. Johnson Stadium Tuesday night.

Chapman was a workhorse on the mound as he improved his record to 3-0 with 8.2 innings. He allowed just three runs on five hits and threw 149 pitches, while striking out a career-high and an Arkansas season-high 17 batters. Brain McLelland (1-1) took the loss for the Razorbacks, allowing three runs on two ORU home runs.

The loss dropped the Razorbacks to 19-8 on the season while the Golden Eagles improve to 12-11.

Jake Kahaulelio put the stake in the Hogs in the eighth inning with a two-run home run to left field to put ORU on top 5-3.

McQuigg had tied things up at 3-3 for the Golden Eagles in the bottom of the seventh inning with a two-out solo home run to left field. It was McQuigg’s sixth home run of the season.

The Razorbacks mounted a two-out rally in the ninth inning that finally chased Chapman from the game. Jake Dugger then hammered Michael Jarman’s 1-0 pitch deep to left-center field but was caught up against the wall by ORU center fielder Kelly Minissale to end the game.

James Gilbert threw three-scoreless innings in his first start of the season. He allowed just one hit, fanned two and left the game with a 3-0 lead. It was Jarman’s first save of the season.

Danny Hamblin continued to kill Oral Roberts pitching with his sixth career home run against the Golden Eagles and his fifth at J.L. Johnson Stadium. His fourth-inning, two-run shot to left-field staked the Hogs to a 3-0 lead. It was Hamblin’s seventh home run of the season and his sixth in his last 10 games.

Senior right-hander Chris Rhoads came on in the fourth inning and walked the first two batters he faced. He then surrendered a 1-2 base hit to center field to get the Golden Eagles on the score board. Carter McQuigg then put down a perfect suicide squeeze but for ORU’s second run.

The Razorbacks scored their first run of the game in the top of the third inning without the benefit of a base hit. Jacob Julius was hit by a pitch to leadoff the inning and Tim Smalling then drew a walk. Matt Willard then reached on a failed sacrifice bunt with Julius gunned out at third. Following a walk to Jake Dugger, Wayne Hrozek’s ground ball to shortstop plated the run.

The Razorbacks travel to Knoxville, Tenn., this weekend for a three-game SEC series with the Volunteers.