BROOKINGS, S.D. (Interstat) — Jackson Farrell pitched 6.2 innings of one-run ball and the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles defeated the South Dakota State Jackrabbits 4-1 in the opening game of a doubleheader Saturday afternoon.

Oral Roberts (35-23) struck first in the top of the first inning. Makani Tanaka singled and Wailele Kane Yates walked, then both advanced on a wild pitch. Cooper Combs followed with a two-run single up the middle to give the Golden Eagles a 2-0 lead.

The score remained there as Farrell and South Dakota State starter Drew McDowell traded scoreless frames. McDowell worked seven innings, allowing two runs on three hits with four strikeouts. Farrell retired 10 straight batters at one point before running into trouble in the seventh.

Farrell walked Luke Luskey to start the bottom of the seventh. After a flyout, Carter Taylor singled, putting runners at first and second. Kash Ferris relieved Farrell and surrendered an RBI single to Luke Wroblewski that scored Luskey and cut the deficit to 2-1. Taylor was thrown out trying to advance to third on the play.

Ferris struck out the side in the eighth and worked a perfect ninth, finishing with five strikeouts in 2.1 hitless innings.

Oral Roberts added two insurance runs in the top of the ninth off South Dakota State reliever Tristan Augedahl. Cooper Kelly walked, and Matthew Mainord singled. Hudson Ellis then singled up the middle, scoring Kelly for a 3-1 lead. Ellis advanced to third on a fielding error by center fielder Owen Siegert, and Will Edmunson walked. Tanaka grounded out to end the inning but the damage was done.

Ferris closed the game by striking out Mason Lang looking to seal the victory. The Jackrabbits (20-31) managed only five hits in the game. Carter Taylor and Owen Siegert each had two hits. Wroblewski drove in the lone run.

For Oral Roberts, Combs finished 1 for 4 with two RBIs. Tanaka went 2 for 5 and scored a run. Ellis was 1 for 4 with an RBI. McDowell took the loss despite a solid outing; Augedahl allowed one earned run over two innings.

Farrell’s outing marked a bounce-back performance after he allowed two earned runs in one inning of relief against Northern Colorado on May 14. The Golden Eagles have won two straight and five of their last seven. South Dakota State had won two in a row entering the contest.

The teams faced each other six days earlier, with South Dakota State winning 7-3 at Oral Roberts on May 20. The Golden Eagles had taken three of four from the Jackrabbits in a series in April.

The second game of the doubleheader was scheduled to follow later in the evening. No betting line was posted for the contest.