Oral Roberts head coach Sunny Golloway (at left) answers questions from the media at the postgame press conference as senior Doug Bernier (at right) listens. The fourth-seeded Golden Eagles eliminated top-seed and regional host Wichita State,15-8, to advance to the championship round against third-seeded Arkansas, Sun., June 2.

WICHITA, Kan.-- In a game that produced 30 hits, 23 runs and six errors, fourth-seeded Oral Roberts eliminated top-seeded and regional host Wichita State, 15-8, before a crowd of 4,336 at Eck Stadium-Home of Tyler Field. The win by the Golden Eagles advances them to the championship round to face Arkansas beginning Sun., June 2, at 2 p.m. Should ORU defeat third-seeded Arkansas, a second a deciding championship game will be played at 6 p.m., to award a bid to the Super Regional that will be played June 7-9.

ORU hitters roughed up the Shocker pitching staff for the second consecutive day, pounding out 18 hits on five WSU pitchers. Golden Eagles' left-fielder Billy Joe Richardson led ORU's attack, going 3-for-4 at the plate and driving in four runs. Catcher David Castillo assisted in the effort with a 3-for-4 performance while driving in two runs. The Shocker defense was responsible for six errors, leading to five unearned runs. Logan Sorensen led all Shocker hitters by driving in two runs in a 1-for-4 effort from the plate.

The scoring started early and often in the game, as WSU posted three runs in the top of the first. Oral Roberts answered with five runs in the bottom of the frame, including two runs scored on an error by Shocker right-fielder Randy Walter. Richardson then singled to center scoring two more runs to give ORU a 5-3 after an inning of play.

ORU added two runs in the second and one in the third before WSU could rally in the top of the fourth. Designated-hitter Justin McCarty scored on a Brandon Green groundout to second base and catcher Shocker catcher Ryan Owen would later score on a walk to narrow the ORU advantage to two (8-6).

The Golden Eagles answered with a run in the bottom of the fourth before exploding for six runs in the bottom of the seventh inning that put the game out of reach for WSU.

With the loss. WSU is eliminated and completes the 2002 season with a 47-17 record.