Clarksville, Ark.-Junior right-hander Todd Koch held the LeTourneau offense in check through 7.0 innings while the Eagles bats went to work as No. 19 Ozarks pounded out 12 hits on the way to an 9-4 American Southwest Conference win over the YellowJackets on Friday.
The win snapped a three-game losing streak and guaranteed them their third 20-win season in the past four years.
The Eagles (20-6, 7-3) opened the game with a four-run first after notching four hits as Ozarks sent nine batters to the plate. Brad Broussard drew a bases loaded walk to give Ozarks its first run of the game. Robert Mummey later followed with a two-run single to extend their lead to 3-0. Logan Kizer recorded a two-out single to center field to score Broussard. LeTourneau (7-15-1, 2-5) pushed across a run in the second. After two scoreless innings for the Ozarks’ offense, the Eagles responded with four runs in the top of the fourth. John Glenn singled in a run, and began what would be four straight hits for Ozarks in the inning. Bruce Cameron and Cory Briggs hit back-to-back doubles to drive in a run each. Robby Finnell gave Ozarks a 8-1 lead when he singled in Briggs. Meanwhile, starter Todd Koch allowed just five hits through seven innings, while fanning eight and issuing two walks. Koch controlled the game as he kept the LeTourneau bats off-balance with changeups throughout the afternoon.
Scott Dietz recorded a standup double in the bottom of the seventh, and would eventually score on an errant throw by the first baseman. The YellowJackets mounted a comeback in the top of the eighth, pushing three runs across, including a two-run single by Burton Rhodes.
Koch moved his record to 4-2 with the win.
Cameron finished 3-for-5 with one RBI. Glenn, Briggs and Dietz each went 2-for-4. Mummey drove in 2 RBI.
Ozarks and LeTourneau will continue their series with a double-header tomorrow beginning at 12:00 p.m.
Topics: Athletics