Clarksville, Ark.-The University of the Ozarks softball team split with UT-Dallas on Saturday in American Southwest Conference play.
<#IMAGE:1#>UT-Dallas (7-10, 1-5) overcame a 4-2 deficit and used big back-to-back innings to upend the Lady Eagles 13-5 in game one. Ozarks (7-7, 3-1) came back to earn a 2-1 victory in game two behind a six-hit performance from freshman pitcher Stephany Henson. In game one, the Lady Comets trailed by two runs after three innings of play, but scored four in the fourth and seven in the fifth to gain their first ASC win. With UT-Dallas holding a 2-1 lead going into the bottom of the third, the Lady Eagles quickly answered when Stacy Simpson and Kara Bartholomew reached on back-to-back singles. Both would eventually cross the plate to give Ozarks the lead. In the same inning, Chelsea Joslin hit a solo shot deep to center field to give Ozarks a 4-2 advantage. It was Joslin’s third homer of the season. The Lady Comets, however, had a big fourth inning that saw them score four runs on six hits, and followed that with a seven-run fifth inning to put the game away. Joslin and Jeanne Randall each collected two hits. Andrea Mitchell (3-5) suffered the loss. She pitched four and one-third innings and struck out one. Game two turned into a pitcher’s dual, and it was Ozarks freshman Stephany Henson that came out on top with a narrow 2-1 win. Henson went the distance in the seven inning contest, scattering six hits and striking out three. UT-Dallas Jana Cain allowed only four hits and also struck out three. Henson improved her record to 4-2 with the win. UT-Dallas took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first, and the score remained so until the Lady Eagles’ offensive got going in the bottom of the third. Randall opened the inning with a walk. Randall then stole second base and Simpson singled her in to tie the contest at 1-1. Brooke Grice then hit a sacrifice fly with out that scored Simpson, giving Ozarks the game-winning run. Meanwhile, Henson allowed only one hit in the final three innings of play and held the Lady Comets scoreless for five straight innings. UT-Dallas did get their first runner on in the top of the seventh, but Henson forced a fly out, struck out one and then forced a ground out to end the game. Bartholomew, who has a team-best 21 hits, paced Ozarks at the plate with a 3-for-3 performance. The Lady Eagles will travel to Fulton, Mo., to face Westminster College on March 21.
Topics: Athletics