Clarksville, Ark.-Stephany Henson and Kaci Foster combined for a no-hitter against Hillsdale Baptist College in Ozarks 12-0 win Tuesday afternoon.
Henson started the game and went three innings, while Foster went the final two to give Ozarks its second no-hitter this season, and the third in program history. Henson fanned three to improve her record to 3-4 overall. She issued just one walk and did not allow a base runner past second. Foster continued what Henson started by forcing a number of ground outs and did not issue a walk.
Ozarks’ offense has caught fire of late as it has averaged over 12 hits per game in their last six contests and Tuesday was no different. The Lady Eagles (5-8) recorded 11 hits and four different players had two hits in game one. Ozarks jumped on Hillsdale’s (2-20) pitching staff early in game one, scoring five runs off four hits. Ali Mathis tripled in Henson for the first run of the game. Kelsey Mefford then knocked in Mathis, and Kelsey Stephens would record a bases clearing double to give Ozarks a 5-0 advantage. The Lady Eagles would add two more runs in both the second and third innings to hold a comfortable 9-0 lead. In the fourth, Emily Burns cranked out her first homer of the season to bring in three runs.
Stephens and Burns each went 2-for-3 with 3 RBI.
Mefford homered twice, drove in five runs and picked up the win after pitching four and two-third innings in a 14-3 game two win.
The offense again produced big in the first inning scoring four runs on three hits. But it was the third frame
that put the game away for Ozarks. Mefford led off the inning with a home run, her second of the season. Nicole Ashley drew a walk and Rebecca Groff singled through the left side to set the stage for Stephens. Stephens delivered a home run over the left field fence to increase Ozarks lead to 8-0. The Ozarks’ bats were not done though. Henson and Mathis each drove in runs. With Mathis on first, Mefford hit a monster shot deep to left center that brought in two more runs. Morgan Goates and Mathis each had RBI singles in the fourth.
Stephens had a big day at the plate, ending 2-for-2 with 4 RBI.
Mefford (1-2) got her first win of the season in a five-strike out performance.
Ozarks will open American Southwest Conference play when it plays at East Texas Baptist University this weekend.
Topics: Athletics