TIGERS FINISH SERIES AGAINST ROOSEVELT WITH AN 11-1 VICTORY

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. – The Olivet Nazarene University baseball team hosted the Roosevelt University Lakers on Wednesday looking for the series sweep.  The Tigers won their 14th game in a row and defeated Lakers, 11-1.  

The Tigers pounced on the Lakers early scoring five runs on five hits in the bottom of the first inning. Tyler Wheeler put a crooked number on the scoreboard as his ninth home run of the year scored three runs. Gunnar Pullins ripped a double to the wall in straight away center scoring Kai Hudson for the fourth run. With the next at-bat, Alex Ortiz drove Pullins home with an RBI single down the middle to complete the offensive onslaught for the inning.

ONU picked up where they left off in the first tacking on two additional runs in the third inning. Pullins had his second extra-base hit in as many at-bats with a triple down the right-field line. Ortiz drove him in for his second RBI of the day with a double through the left side. Donovan Yelle joined the party with an RBI single to center as the Tigers held a demanding 7-0 lead after three innings.

Pullins continued his hot streak with his third extra-base hit of the afternoon. The Valparaiso, Ind. native hit a well-placed blooper down the right-field line for a standup double and scored his second RBI of the ballgame. The run increased the score to 8-0 heading into the fifth inning.

The Lakers reached the scoreboard for the first time in the top half of the fifth inning. RU put two men on the corners with no outs. A sacrifice fly to center made it an 8-1 ballgame. Robert Jackman had an RBI single while Hudson had two to make it a 10-run ballgame in the bottom half of the inning.

Ethan Underwood went six innings allowing only four hits and one walk. The right-handed pitcher struck out six batters with no earned runs. He recorded the win to improve to a team-leading six wins on the season. Nolan Belschner came in relief in the seventh inning to retire the side.

GAME VITALS

Records: Olivet Nazarene 22-14 (15-2 CCAC) | Roosevelt 12-15 (6-6 CCAC)

WHAT's NEXT?

The Tigers will get the weekend off and will return to action as they hit the road for a mid-week doubleheader meeting with Trinity International on Wed. April 13. The first pitch for game one is slated for 1 p.m. CST with game two following at 3:45 p.m. CST. Please visit onutigers.com for all the updated links to follow the action.

--ONU—

*Contact: Patrick Kaindl, Sports Information Graduate Assistant