WICHITA, Kan. -- Behind an excellent pitching performance by Kelly Minissale and a three RBI effort by Brian Van Kirk and Juan Martinez, Oral Roberts University rolled to a 12-0 defeat of No. 14 Wichita State on Tuesday night at Eck Stadium.
ORU won their fifth game in a row to improve to 39-12 on the year while Wichita State dropped to 38-15.
Minissale (2-3) posted his second complete game of the year, scattering seven hits while striking out six.
The Golden Eagles jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the second inning off six singles. Van Kirk led off the inning with a single off Tim Kelley then after a Ryan Groth fly out, ORU had five of the next six batters collect singles to push four runs across the board in the frame.
Van Kirk and Groth led off the third inning with consecutive singles, chasing Kelley out of the game. Logan Hoch came in relief for Kelley and was able to get the Shockers out of the jam unscathed.
Minissale, making his seventh start of the season, ran into trouble in the bottom of the third with runners on first and second and one out. The left-hander hurler forced Wichita State’s slugger Conor Gillaspie into a 4-6-3 double play to end the inning and the Shocker threat.
The runs kept coming for ORU as Van Kirk delivered his third consecutive of the single in the top of the fourth to plate Minissale with two outs for the Golden Eagles fifth run.
ORU tallied six more runs in the top of the fifth to extend their lead to 11-0. The Golden Eagles scored their first two runs on a two-run single by Juan Martinez. Minissale then gave ORU their first extra-base hit with a double down the left field line to plate Martinez. Ben Petralli added an RBI single, scoring Martinez and Van Kirk slugged his league-leading 13th home run of the year over the fence in right center for an 11-0 ORU lead.
Wichita State was able to load the bases with only one out in the bottom of the fifth but Minissale worked out of the jam again. The senior yet again forced Gillaspie to fly out to Van Kirk then the left fielder proceeded to throw out Tyler Hill at home plate as ORU kept WSU scoreless.
David Genao powered the first pitch by reliever Matt Smith over the center field fence for his seventh home run and ORU’s 12th run.
Van Kirk finished 4-for-5, Genao went 3-for-5 and Martinez went 2-for-4 to pace the Golden Eagles offense. All nine starters for ORU recorded a hit as the Golden Eagles had 16 hits in the game.
The Golden Eagles need only one more win to record their 11th straight 40-win season.
ORU travels to Fort Wayne, Ind. tomorrow to prepare for their last Summit League series this weekend at IPFW. First pitch is slated for Thursday at 2 p.m. (CDT).
Courtesy: ORU Media Relations
