TULSA, Okla. (Interstat) — Kole Dudding’s three-run homer in the sixth inning erased a two-run deficit and propelled the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles to a 4-3 victory over the Arkansas State Red Wolves in the first game of a doubleheader on Saturday.

The Red Wolves (11-4) struck quickly against Oral Roberts starter Nathan Love in the first inning. Ashton Quiller led off with a double and later scored on Patrick Engskov’s RBI single to left field, giving Arkansas State an early lead.

Oral Roberts (6-7) answered in the bottom half of the frame. Makani Tanaka was hit by a pitch, stole second, advanced to third on a groundout and scored on Martell Davis’s RBI double, trimming the deficit to 3-1.

The game settled into a pitchers’ duel from there. Arkansas State starter Jack Nelson, despite command issues, held the Golden Eagles hitless after the first-inning double through five and two-thirds innings. His offense provided a cushion in the fifth when Lane Walton launched a two-run homer to left field, scoring Kaden Amundson who had singled, to extend the Red Wolves’ lead to 3-1.

Nelson’s no-hit bid and his outing unraveled in the bottom of the sixth. After recording the first out, he walked Cooper Kelly and then hit Will Edmunson with a pitch. Dudding, the designated hitter, then stepped in and drove a 1-0 offering over the left-field wall for a three-run home run, flipping the score to 4-3 in favor of Oral Roberts.

The homer prompted a pitching change, with Collin Maloney relieving Nelson. Maloney was superb in relief, retiring all seven batters he faced over two and a third perfect innings to keep the Red Wolves within reach.

The Golden Eagles’ bullpen, however, was even more dominant. After Love allowed three runs on six hits over five innings, Luke Williams and Jack Hill combined for four hitless innings of relief. Williams earned the win with two perfect frames, striking out three. Hill collected the save, allowing just two singles in the ninth before inducing a game-ending groundout with the tying and go-ahead runs on base.

Walton’s home run accounted for two of Arkansas State’s eight hits. Davis had two of Oral Roberts’ four hits, including his first-inning RBI double.

The loss snapped a three-game winning streak for the Red Wolves, who entered the contest having won eight of their last nine. Oral Roberts improved to .500 at home this season.

The teams were scheduled to conclude the doubleheader later Saturday. Arkansas State is set to visit Arkansas-Little Rock on Tuesday before hosting Southern Mississippi for a weekend series. Oral Roberts will host Central Arkansas on Tuesday before a three-game set against South Dakota State.