Oral Roberts Eliminates North Carolina A&T with 6-3 Win

June 4, 2005

Box Score

CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) – Dennis Bigley had a two-run double and starter Taylor McIntyre went 7 2-3 strong innings to keep Oral Roberts going in the NCAA tournament with a 6-3 victory over North Carolina A&T on Saturday.

The Golden Eagles (41-19) had been to seven straight regionals before this one, all without advancing past the opening round. They made sure early that it wouldn’t be 0-for-8 with four hits in the first inning – nearly as many as the six they got in their loss Friday to College of Charleston – to take a 2-0 lead.

McIntyre (8-6) barely let North Carolina A&T come close after that, giving up six hits before he came out in the eighth.

Bigley put things away when his double to the fence in left scored Kelly Minissale and Michael Hollimon to put Oral Roberts ahead 6-1.

The Golden Eagles will take on either Clemson or College of Charleston in another elimination game Sunday.

North Carolina A&T (27-27), the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference champions, will remember the missed opportunities in its first ever NCAA appearance. The Aggies were a combined 3 of 20 with runners in scoring position in their two defeats.

Still, North Carolina A&T did not go quietly.

The Aggies loaded the bases with no outs on singles by Dustin Ijames and Charlie Gamble and a walk to Jeremy Jones. But McIntyre struck out Patrick Oates and, after an RBI walk to Joe McIntyre, then got Raul Santiago on strikes and Chris Williams on a grounder to short to end the threat.

Two innings later, they again had bases loaded and no one out. Oral Roberts’ McIntyre got North Carolina A&T’s McIntyre to hit into a double play. Raul Santiago then grounded out to shortstop to finish the inning.

Tim Robertson got the final four outs for his fourth save.

North Carolina A&T starter John Primus (7-3) took the loss.