Clarksville, Ark. ? Cory Briggs homered and Ashdon Ayling allowed just one hit through five innings in relief to lead the Eagles to a 4-3 win over Hendrix College Tuesday afternoon.
Briggs, who started on the mound and tossed four innings, hit a two-run shot over the right field fence to give Ozarks (2-5) the go-ahead run. It was Briggs first home run of the year, and his first start on the mound this season. The senior right-hander struck out two and left the game with the lead. Ayling (1-0) did the rest as he cruised through five innings and did not issue a walk to collect his first collegiate win. The freshman from The Colony, Texas, had a rough start to the game as he gave up a homer to his first batter. Ayling quickly settled in and would later force a pair of double plays to keep Hendrix (3-5) off the board.
Jonathan Cox drew a bases loaded walk in the second to tie the game at 1-1. Briggs then held Hendrix scoreless in the top of the third before helping his own cause in the bottom half of the inning with his home run. Hendrix made it 3-2 in the top of the fourth, but Ozarks answered in the bottom half of the inning to go up 4-2. Briggs nearly made it a four-run game in the seventh when he was robbed of an extra base hit and two RBI on Kyle Raskin’s diving stop at third base.
Jeremy Hogan went 2-for-3 at the plate for Ozarks.
Ozarks will host Sul Ross State University this weekend in a three-game series beginning Friday at 2:00 p.m.
Topics: Athletics