Clarksville, Ark. ?Jeremy Hogan's walk-off homer lifted Ozarks to a dramatic come-from-behind 9-8 win over LeTourneau University in American Southwest Conference play Friday.
Hogan’s blast came on a 2-1 count and easily sailed over the left field wall, prompting the Ozarks’ fans into a frenzied celebration. It was Hogan’s only hit of the game but it couldn’t have come at a better time for the Eagles (7-14, 2-4 ASC). Trailing 8-7 going into the bottom of the ninth, Cory Briggs started the rally with a double down the left field line. Hogan then got all of Jay Lutz’s pitch to help the Eagles snap a three-game losing skid.
The Eagles let a 6-0 lead slip away as LeTourneau (10-13, 2-2 ASC) scored six runs in the top of the fourth to tie it. The YellowJackets eventually took the lead in the fifth after plating a pair of runs. Scott Dietz drove in Mitchell Powers in the seventh to get Ozarks within 8-7. Starter Travis Conner cruised through the first three innings before running into trouble in the fourth. Prior to the fourth, Conner allowed just three hits and struck out three. He worked three and two-third innings and fanned five. The Eagles posted two runs in the second and then added four more in the third. In the third frame, Chris Young drew a bases loaded walk for the first run. Ian Bryan followed with an RBI single through the right side of the infield. Arturo Perez was Ozarks next batter, and he promptly delivered a two-run single to extend Ozarks’ advantage to 6-0.
Brett Wood tossed four and one-third innings in relief, but it was Bill Smith (1-0) who took the win after pitching the final inning.
Perez was 2-for-2 while Powers and Dietz each went 2-for-3.
The Eagles will continue their series tomorrow with a double-header beginning at 12:00 p.m.
Both games can be heard on KXIO 106.9 FM and on the internet at www.kxio.nu.
Topics: Athletics