Clarksville, Ark.--Ozarks' pitching dominated Tuesday's non-conference match-up with Central Baptist College by allowing a combined four hits and and giving up only two runs during the double-header.
Behind a two-hit shutout by starting pitcher Chanceree Catlett, the Lady Eagles picked up a 8-0 win over Central Baptist College in the first game. After holding a 1-0 lead at the end of three innings, the Lady Eagles exploded for six runs in the fourth. Prior to Ozarks big fourth inning scoring output, Chelsea Joslin blasted her fifth home run in the third to give Ozarks a 1-0 advantage. In the fourth, Shannon Rainbolt began the offensive action with an infield single. Kara Bartholomew followed with a bunt to reach base and Brooke Grice also reached first on a Lady Mustang error to load the bases. Joslin, who is hitting a conference-best .533, knocked in all three runners to give the Lady Eagles a 4-0 advantage. The scoring wasn’t over for Ozarks in the fourth. Jessica Pianalto singled in two runs to increase Ozarks’ advantage to 6-0 and put the game out of reach. Catlett then retired seven straight batters before Central Baptist picked up their second hit of the game in the fifth. However, it was a little too late as Catlett forced the Lady Mustangs into a double play to end the game. Ozarks finished with ten hits. Bartholomew, Joslin and Bottoms each collected two hits apiece. Joslin had a game-high 4 RBI. Catlett (2-7) received the win and ended the game with two strikeouts. The second game saw more of the same pitching efficiency as starter Dana Marvin yielded only two hits in a 3-2 victory. Marvin had a one-hit shutout going until the top of the seventh inning. With two outs, Central Baptist’s Alice Shipp clubbed a two-run home run to break up the bid for Ozarks second straight blanking of the Lady Mustangs. Ozarks got on the board twice in the bottom of the first inning. Rainbolt and Bartholomew hit back-to-back singles and then stole one base each to put runners in scoring position. Joslin singled in Rainbolt and Bartholomew advanced to third on the play. Bartholomew then stole home to give Ozarks their second run of the inning. After two scoreless innings, Bartholomew notched an RBI single in the fourth when she knocked in Jodie Clark, who had earlier reached base on a single. Marvin continued to limit the Central Baptist offense by recording outs on eight straight batters before Shipp’s homer. Ozarks had seven hits in the contest, with Bartholomew and Erica Newell each collecting two hits apiece. Bartholomew and Joslin each had one RBI. It was Joslin’s team-leading 16th RBI of the season. Marvin evened her record to 4-4 this season after pitching seven innings and striking out six. Ozarks will travel to Tyler, Texas, to face UT-Tyler on April 1 and April 2.
Topics: Athletics