GARDEN CITY, Colo. (Interstat) — Oral Roberts and Northern Colorado meet Friday evening in a Summit League series opener at Jackson Field, with the Golden Eagles looking to rebound from a one-run loss in the first game of the four-game set.

Oral Roberts (30-21) holds a 78.60% probability to win according to Interstat’s ELO system, though the same simulator projects a 6-5 final score in favor of the host Bears. The forecast calls for 86 degrees and cloudy skies at first pitch.

The Golden Eagles lost 7-6 to Northern Colorado on Thursday, despite a monster performance from catcher Wailele KaneYates. The junior went 3-for-5 with two home runs and four RBIs, improving his recent hot streak. Over his last four games, KaneYates has three homers and six RBIs, though he’s also struck out in four of his past six contests. He leads an Oral Roberts lineup that averages 7.0 runs per game this season.

Northern Colorado (16-34) snapped a two-game skid with Thursday’s win, its third victory in four head-to-head meetings this season. The Bears have taken three of four from the Golden Eagles in 2026, including a pair of 3-2 wins in early April at Oral Roberts.

Third baseman Brandon Sanchez has been the catalyst for Northern Colorado. He went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs in Thursday’s win, following a four-hit, two-RBI performance at North Dakota State on May 8. Sanchez is hitting .368 over his last 10 games with three homers and 14 RBIs.

Oral Roberts counters with right-hander Easton Teel, who threw four shutout innings in Thursday’s loss, allowing no hits and one earned run while striking out two. The Golden Eagles have dropped five of their last six overall, with the lone win coming May 9 against Omaha.

Northern Colorado’s Sam Pease contributed a 2-for-3, one-homer, two-RBI game Thursday, and starting pitcher Reece Wagner earned the win with five innings of three-run ball.

The series continues Saturday, May 16, with the same two teams meeting again at Jackson Field.

Oral Roberts enters having won 10 of its last 15 Summit League games, while Northern Colorado has won seven of its last 10 conference contests. The Golden Eagles hold a 30-21 overall record; the Bears are 16-34.