TULSA, Okla. (Interstat) — The Oral Roberts Golden Eagles rallied for two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning, erasing a one-run deficit to defeat the South Dakota State Jackrabbits 4-3 on Friday night in the Summit League opener for both teams at J.L. Johnson Stadium.

The most important part of the game unfolded in that decisive eighth inning. Trailing 3-2, Oral Roberts’ Wailele Kane-Yates was hit by a pitch to lead off the frame. After a sacrifice bunt moved him to second, Martell Davis singled to put runners at the corners. Tyler Brodrick then delivered a crucial single to right field, scoring Kane-Yates to tie the game. Following a pitching change that brought in Logan Campbell for South Dakota State, a wild pitch allowed Davis to scamper home with what proved to be the winning run.

The comeback secured a victory for Oral Roberts (8-9, 1-0 Summit) and spoiled a strong early effort from South Dakota State (5-12, 0-1), which had clung to a lead since the third inning. The win also validated the pregame projections from Interstat, whose game simulator had predicted a 5-4 Oral Roberts victory and whose ELO system gave the Golden Eagles a 76.3% probability to win.

Oral Roberts starter Easton Teel was the top star, providing the stability that allowed for the late rally. The right-hander worked seven strong innings, allowing just two hits and one earned run while striking out four. He effectively quieted a Jackrabbits lineup that managed only four hits total on the night.

South Dakota State had built its lead with opportunistic play. They plated an unearned run in the third inning when Luke Luskey grounded into a fielder’s choice, scoring Nic Werk, who had singled and advanced on an error. The Jackrabbits added another unearned run in the fifth. Werk walked, advanced to second on a passed ball, moved to third on a bunt, and scored on Nolan Grawe’s sacrifice fly to make it 3-2.

The Golden Eagles’ offense was paced by eight hits. Makani Tanaka provided the early spark, launching a solo home run to left-center field in the third inning to cut the initial deficit to 3-1. Cooper Kelly followed later in the inning with an RBI single. Brodrick’s game-tying single in the eighth was his only hit but his most critical contribution.

South Dakota State’s pitching was a committee effort with mixed results. Starter Drew McDowell took the loss, charged with two earned runs over 4 1/3 innings of relief. Ty Madison, who started and pitched 2 1/3 innings, also allowed two earned runs. Austin Henry and Logan Campbell combined for 1 1/3 scoreless frames, but Campbell was on the mound for the decisive wild pitch.

The Jackrabbits threatened in the ninth against Oral Roberts reliever Jack Hill. Nate Wachter and Dayton Franke led off with back-to-back singles. A sacrifice bunt moved both runners into scoring position, and Keagen Jirschele’s groundout to second scored one run. But with the tying run 90 feet away, Hill induced a game-ending groundout from Werk to secure the win.

The game was a defensive struggle for South Dakota State, which committed no errors, while Oral Roberts made two miscues that led to two unearned runs. The Golden Eagles’ bullpen, after Teel’s departure, allowed one run over the final two innings to seal the victory.

The teams will continue the three-game series on Saturday. South Dakota State will look to even the series, while Oral Roberts aims to build momentum in conference play.