Clarksville, Ark.-Andy Tasker pitched a 10-inning complete-game and Shawn Adams and Matt Hebert supplied the offense as University of the Ozarks defeated Hardin-Simmons 6-4 in the first game of a doubleheader on Saturday in Abilene, Texas.
By Larry Isch, Director of Public Relations Hardin-Simmons won the nightcap 3-2 and also won Friday’s single game, 13-5. The Eagles (3-6) improved to 1-2 in American Southwest Conference play by riding the arm of Tasker and rallying for three runs in the top of the 10th inning against one of the preseason favorites in the ASC West Division. Hebert had a two-run single in the 10th and Adams went 3-for-5 with two doubles in the game. Tasker, a 6-foot-4 junior right-hander from Bartlesville, Okal., scattered 10 hits, walked seven and struck out four. He was aided by flawless play from his defense, including a game-saving double play by outfielder Cliff Ford, who caught a line drive and then threw out a runner at the plate in the bottom of the ninth. "Andy didn’t really have his best stuff, but he kept the ball low and we played very good defense behind him," Ozarks Coach Bill Mueller said. Adams, who went 6-for-12 during the weekend, was 3-for-5 in the first game. In the second game of the doubleheader, pitcher Shane Norrid went the distance for Ozarks, allowing three runs and six hits. Kevin Duncan went 2-for-3 with an RBI, Hebert added two hits and Cody Gebhart drew three walks. "We’re 3-6 overall but we’ve played several Division II schools," Mueller said. "The big thing is that we’re 3-2 against teams on our (Division III level). I told our team that if we keep playing well and doing the little things, we’ve got a chance to make it to the conference tournament at the end of the year." Through nine games, Adams leads the Eagles with a .452 average, followed by Hebert (.419) and Duncan (.346). The Eagles travel to UA-Monticello on Wednesday before continuing conference action at LeTourneau University this weekend.
Topics: Athletics