Clarksville, Ark.-Concordia University Texas eliminated No. 22 Ozarks from the American Southwest Conference playoffs with a pair of wins on Saturday in Austin, Texas.
The Tornados (28-14) forced game three after picking up a 7-3 win in the first contest of the day. Concordia followed up with a 10-9 victory to advance to the championship round next weekend.
In game one, Bruce Cameron drove in a pair of runs in the bottom of the third with a double to left field. Concordia cut the lead in half with a solo home run in the fifth. Ozarks (32-11) starting pitcher Todd Koch scattered two hits through five innings, but Concordia’s Tom Williams hit a three-run homer in the sixth to give the Tornados a 4-3 advantage. Cameron continued his torrid pace at the plate, cranking out his single season school record 14th home run in the fifth. Cameron homered seven times in the last 11 games. The Eagles threatened in the seventh when Logan Kizer and Cameron each reached base with one out, but Concordia got out of the inning without giving up a run. Concordia sent a two-run shot over the left field wall in the eighth to make it 7-3. Ozarks stranded two runners in the eighth.
Todd Koch (6-3) suffered the loss.
Cameron finished 3-for-4 with 3 RBI.
A combined six home runs were hit in game two. A Robert Mummey solo homer in the top of the eighth chiseled Concordia’s lead down to 10-8. The Eagles then put runners at the corners with two outs and David Smith ripped a single to right field to make it 10-9. In the top of the ninth, Concordia retired the side to end the game.
Cameron (5-1) received the loss.
Robby Finnell and Scott Dietz also homered for the Eagles. Brad Broussard went 2-for-3.
Topics: Athletics