Clarksville, Ark.-The Eagles moved one step closer to securing a first-round home series in the American Southwest Conference tournament after picking up a 15-5 win over Mississippi College on Friday night.
The Eagles (21-17, 9-7) have already clinched a playoff spot, and the young Ozarks’ squad has a chance to host a first-round three-game playoff series next weekend. Louisiana College pulled off the season’s biggest upset yesterday as they defeated previously unbeaten UT-Tyler 9-2, thus putting the Wildcats in a position to have a chance to be a first-round host. Louisiana College would have to win two more on Saturday and Ozarks would have to drop both games to the Choctaws on Saturday in order for Louisiana to grab the East????????s number two seed. UT-Dallas has already clinched the division????????s number one seed. The Eagles roughed up three Choctaw (15-22, 6-10) pitchers in what turned out to be their highest run-producing ASC game of the season. Ozarks led 8-0 after three, with Choctaw starter Conner Douglas being charged with all eight. The second inning proved to be a big inning for Ozarks as Robby Finnell led off the top half of the frame with a solo home run. Todd Koch and Scott Dietz had back-to-back singles, and Logan Kizer was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Cory Briggs followed Kizer with a two-run single. With one out, John Glenn notched an RBI single for the fourth run of the inning. David Smith would knock in the fifth run of the frame to give Ozarks a 5-0 advantage. Ozarks followed the second inning with a productive third inning, scoring three runs on three hits. Finnell again led off the inning with a solo shot. It was his eighth of the season. Kizer and Briggs each collected an RBI in the inning. Ozarks built a 13-0 lead after five before the Choctaws would score four in the bottom of the sixth, all of which came off starter Curt Dixon. Dixon went five and one-third innings to earn the win. Dixon (5-3) struck out three and gave up six hits. D.J. Braswell went the rest of the way and put impressive numbers as he struck out eight and allowed only one hit in three and two-third innings. Four different players had at least two hits for Ozarks. Bruce Cameron went 3-for-6 with a pair of RBI. Both Glenn and Briggs finished 2-for-3 with 3 RBI. Finnell ended the day 2-for-4 with 3 RBI. Ozarks will continue their series against Mississippi College on Saturday in a double-header beginning at 1:00 p.m.
Topics: Athletics