This sure isn’t 2023 anymore. ORU has not won more than 20 games in a row coming into the 2024 Summit League Tournament. Heck, the Golden Eagles aren’t even The Summit League regular season champions. ORU finished in 4th place* in the regular season standings of The Summit League – a far cry from the team that won the nation’s hearts and made a run in the College World Series last year.

*ORU will be the #3 seed in the tournament since St Thomas is not eligible due to transitioning to Div 1.

ORU Season Synopsis

To say ORU’s season has been disappointing would be an understatement. The Eagles have won or at least shared (once) the regular season title every year except four since 1999.

The Golden Eagles have been a Jekyll/Hyde at the plate this season. They lead the league in runs scored and hits, but are the 2nd worst in on base percentage and slugging. That means a lot of base hits in bunches, but not on a consistent basis.

The do lead the league in ERA, but at 5.69. That is not anything to write home about. It shows they are a feast or famine when it comes to the performance on the mound. It doesn’t seem much consistency in the pitching department as well.

Here are the league’s teams statistics.

NCAA Tournament Hopes

When it comes right down to it, all four teams (Omaha, North Dakota State, ORU, and Northern Colorado) need to win this tournament to get into the NCAA Tournament. That was the case last year as ORU was a 4th seed in the OSU Regional after being 46-10 heading into the postseason and winning the conference tournament.

Bracket & Scoreboard

Wednesday, May 22^nd
G1: (1) Omaha 2 (4) Northern Colorado 4
G2: (2) North Dakota State 3 (3) Oral Roberts 11
 
Thursday, May 23^rd
G3: Omaha 5 North Dakota St 7
G4: Northern Colorado 0 ORU 14
 
Friday, May 24^th
G5: North Dakota St vs. Northern Colorado | 4 p.m. CT
 
Saturday, May 25^th
G6: ORU vs G5 Winner | 1 p.m. CT
G7: If Necessary | 4 p.m. CT

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