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When Oral Roberts entered the ninth inning Friday, it looked as if TCU had things just about locked up.
But the Golden Eagles, who trailed the Horned Frogs 5-2 to start the final frame, kept their miraculous postseason run going, erupting in the ninth inning for a four-run rally to emerge triumphant over TCU, 6-5, in the opening game of the College World Series in Omaha.
In the eighth inning, TCU broke a 2-2 tie with a late-game rally of its own, using a walk, a hit by pitch and a sacrifice fly to plate three runs.
But in the top of the ninth, Oral Roberts’ electric late Oral Roberts rally began in earnest with an RBI single from designated hitter Drew Stahl.
And with one out, senior second baseman Blaze Brothers flipped the game upside down when he launched the game-winning blast, a scorching three-run homer to left field to put Oral Roberts in front for good.
The game was tied after six innings following strong outings from both teams’ starting pitchers.
TCU freshman Kole Klecker allowed just one run over five innings, while Oral Roberts sophomore Jakob Hall threw five innings of two-run ball.
Golden Eagles closer Cade Denton, who was named a first-team NCBWA All-American on Wednesday, pitched the final 1 2/3 innings for Oral Roberts, allowing one run in the eighth inning but locking down the ninth to close out the game.
Brothers’ game-winning home run was another magical moment in what has been a dream season for the Golden Eagles, who are making their first College World Series appearance in 45 years.
Oral Roberts, which entered NCAA Regionals as a No. 4 seed, became only the third fourth-seeded team in NCAA history to qualify for the College World Series.
The Golden Eagles are in the midst of a torrid stretch where they have won 24 out of their last 25 games.
In the middle of this run, Oral Roberts had a 21-game win streak before losing a game to Oregon at its Super Regional.
The Golden Eagles advance to play the winner of Friday’s Florida-Virginia game and will need to win two more games to punch their ticket to the final of the College World Series.
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