Clarksville, Ark.-The Lady Eagles softball team swept Hendrix College in a non-conference double-header on Tuesday afternoon at Hurie Field.
The Lady Eagles (2-0) collected 18 hits in the first game and took a 10-9 win in a wild three-hour nine-inning contest that saw Ozarks receive a clutch hit from sophomore infielder Devon Bottoms. Bottoms smashed a bases loaded pitch with two outs to drive in the game-winning run to lift Ozarks to the victory. Bottoms was Ozarks most productive offensive player in the game, going 4-for-4 with 2 RBI and scoring one run. Freshman third baseman Brooke Grice scored the game-winner after she got on base with a bunt and eventually landed on third base to set up the clutch hit. Hendrix (0-4) held a 5-1 lead in the top of the fourth inning, but the Lady Eagles would explode for five runs on four hits in the bottom half of the inning to take a 6-5 advantage. Hendrix, however, would tack on three runs in the fifth. Ozarks then scored one run in the fifth and sixth innings, and then put two runs on the board in the ninth after facing a 9-8 deficit. Freshman outfielder Kara Bartholomew went 4-for-6 in her college debut. Four other Lady Eagles had two hits apiece in the victory. Freshman right-hander Chanceree Catlett picked up her first win of her college career after pitching five innings and striking out two. The Lady Eagles jumped out to a comfortable 4-0 lead after one inning of play and took a 8-2 victory over Hendrix in the second game of the double-header. Shannon Rainbolt, Tiffany Armstrong, Jodie Clark and Erica Newell each crossed the plate in the first inning while senior pitcher Amanda Luney (1-0) dominated the Hendrix batters by giving up only four hits and two runs in seven innings of work. Luney recorded five strikeouts and received her first win of the season. Ozarks had 8 hits in the contest, with Erica Newell, Grice and Bartholomew each collecting two hits apiece. Newell and Grice each had a team leading 2 RBI. Ozarks out hit Hendrix 26-15 in the two-game series. Bartholomew went 6-for-9 (.667) in the double-header and was a perfect 5-for-5 in stolen bases. Grice totaled 4 RBI in the two games. The Lady Eagles return to action on February 28 when they travel to Fulton, Missouri, to face Westminster College.
Topics: Athletics