Brandon King had a home run and three RBIs, and senior Mark Guest threw the first complete game of his career as Oral Roberts topped Dallas Baptist 7-2 on Sunday night to force a deciding game in the championship round of the Fort Worth Regional.
Guest (2-0), who missed much of the season with a torn muscle in his chest, retired 16 of the last 17 hitters he faced. He struck out two and walked one for Oral Roberts (39-21).
“Mark’s performance was special against a very good offensive team,” Oral Roberts coach Rob Walton said. “He’s more than capable of throwing well.
The Golden Eagles (39-21) are one game from advancing to the school’s second super regional appearance. The two teams play again Monday night to see which one will advance out of Fort Worth.
Cam Shiller had a home run and three RBIs as the Golden Eagles’ Nos. 3-6 hitters, including cleanup hitter King, went a combined 6 for 13, accounted for every RBI, and had four runs and five walks. In an 8-4 victory over TCU in an elimination game Sunday, those hitters went 5 for 13 with seven RBIs, three walks and three runs.
“They are definitely swinging the bats well right now,” Dallas Baptist coach Dan Heefner said. “We’ll talk about it and come up with a game plan.”
Ryan Behmanesh and Duncan McAlpine had RBIs for the Patriots (41-18).
Guest, who missed much of the season with a strained muscle in his chest, had pitched only 16 innings this season.
“He threw pitches for strikes, hitting fastballs and sliders all day,” said Behmanesh. “If you throw pitches for strikes, you’re going to get outs. We just couldn’t make the adjustments.”
Heefner said his team had no tape on Guest because the senior from Plano had thrown so few innings this season.
“I just tried to get ahead in the count,” Guest said. “The goal you have is to keep your team in the ballgame, and get into the game (on Monday).
Guest’s performance continued a string of good outings for Oral Roberts pitchers. Since giving up 10 runs in a loss Friday to the Horned Frogs, Golden Eagles pitchers have put together a 2.08 ERA in three straight wins.
“I beat Texas last year and now DBU,” Guest said. “I probably won’t be welcome back in the state.”