Marshall, Texas- East Texas Baptist got a hit when it counted most and pulled out a 7-6 win over the Eagles in American Southwest Conference play Friday night.
East Texas Baptist (9-11, 1-0 ASC) rallied from a 6-4 seventh inning deficit and eventually got the game-winning hit from Nick Grizzell in the bottom of the ninth. The Tigers led off the bottom half of the ninth with a triple and Ozarks (9-10, 1-3 ASC) then intentionally walked two straight batters to load the bases. ETBU’s next batter struck out, giving Ozarks the chance to end the inning with a double play. However, Grizzell laced a game-winning single, his first hit of the game, to right field to drive in Matt Sullivan.
The Tigers scored four runs in the third inning to hold a 4-0 lead, but Ozarks responded with three runs in the top of the fourth to climb back into the game. The Eagles later tied the contest after a Freddy Prince solo home run in the sixth. It was Prince’s first home run of the season. Ozarks added two more runs in the seventh behind RBI from John Singler and Drew Clark. Holding a 6-4 lead, Ozarks would allow a run in the bottom of the seventh, eighth and ninth innings to suffer a loss.
Tyler Erickson started and went seven and two-third innings. He fanned seven and walked one. Alex Rodriguez (1-1) took the loss.
Prince and Singler each had three hits.
Ozarks will conclude its series with East Texas Baptist tomorrow in a double-header beginning at noon.
Topics: Athletics