TULSA, Okla. (Interstat) — Makani Tanaka’s sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 14th inning lifted Oral Roberts to a 3-2 victory over Arkansas State in the opener of a doubleheader on Saturday at J. L. Johnson Stadium.

The Golden Eagles capitalized on a costly error to secure the walk-off win in a marathon game defined by stellar pitching and missed opportunities. The contest lasted 4 hours and 17 minutes.

The decisive frame began with Oral Roberts’ Austin Nicholson grounding out. Arkansas State then summoned reliever Cooper Garrison with one out. Kole Dudding then reached base on a throwing error by the Red Wolves’ shortstop. Matthew Mainord followed with a single to left, moving Dudding to second. Hudson Ellis was then hit by a pitch to load the bases.

Tanaka then lifted a fly ball to deep center field, scoring Dudding from third to end the game. The run was unearned.

The most important part of the game was the collective effort of the Arkansas State bullpen, which threw eight innings of no-hit baseball to keep the game tied, only to be undone by the late error. After starter Chase Richter allowed two runs on nine hits over six innings, relievers Jelle van der Lelie, Ryan Ashford and Brett Foss combined for seven scoreless innings without allowing a hit. Van der Lelie struck out four in 2 1/3 innings, Ashford worked a scoreless ninth, and Foss pitched four dominant hitless frames, striking out one.

Their work negated a strong start from Oral Roberts’ Easton Teel, the top star for the Golden Eagles. Teel allowed one run on four hits over six innings, striking out five. It was a bounce-back performance after a rough outing against Dallas Baptist on Feb. 26.

The game was a pitchers’ duel from the start. Arkansas State’s Ashton Quiller launched a solo home run to left field in the top of the first inning. Oral Roberts answered in the bottom half when Cooper Combs hit a solo homer of his own.

The Golden Eagles tied the game in the fifth. Dudding doubled, moved to third on a groundout and scored on an RBI double by Ellis.

Arkansas State reclaimed the lead in the seventh. After a walk and a single, Kaden Amundson delivered a bunt single that scored Cason Campbell. The Red Wolves could not add to the lead, however, stranding two runners.

Oral Roberts tied it again in the bottom of the seventh without a hit. Ellis was hit by a pitch, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt and scored on a two-out RBI single by Combs.

Both teams had chances in extra innings. Oral Roberts loaded the bases with one out in the ninth against van der Lelie, but Ashford entered and struck out Dudding before getting Mainord to ground out. The Golden Eagles also put two on in the 10th but could not score.

Arkansas State managed 10 hits but grounded into three double plays and left nine runners on base. Oral Roberts had nine hits but struck out 16 times.

Weston Rouse took over for Teel and allowed one run on four hits over four innings for Oral Roberts. Kash Ferris provided three scoreless innings of relief, and Maddox Thornton pitched a perfect 14th to earn the win.

Garrison was charged with the unearned run and the loss for Arkansas State.

With the victory, Oral Roberts evened its season record at 7-7. Arkansas State fell to 11-5. The teams were scheduled to play the second game of the doubleheader later Saturday.