Clarksville, Ark. ?No. 14 Mississippi College completed a four-game American Southwest Conference weekend sweep with a pair of wins over the Lady Eagles Saturday.
Ozarks (7-23, 1-15 ASC) was one-hit by a trio of Choctaw pitchers in a 9-0 setback in game one and then gave up 23 hits in a 16-5 game two loss.
In game one, Ozarks recorded its only hit of the contest in the first inning when Sarah Otteman reached on a single. But the Choctaw pitching staff did not allow another hit the rest of the way to earn the shutout. The Choctaws (21-7, 7-5 ASC) had a 3-0 lead after three, and then manufactured three more runs in the fourth to continue their momentum. Stephany Henson (4-11) took the loss.
In game two, Mississippi College opened the contest with a run, but Ozarks got it back following an Ali Mathis RBI single. Mathis laced a shot through the left side to score Colbey Russo, who had reached base on a walk. The Choctaws then took a 5-1 lead after scoring four runs in the top of the second. Ozarks built some momentum in the fourth and fifth innings by collecting a combined six hits. In the fourth, Rebecca Groff and Henson recorded back-to-back singles. Morgan Goates scored Groff on a groundout and Henson later advanced home on a wild pitch. Otteman drew a walk and then stole second. Russo then delivered a single to left field to score Otteman and put the Lady Eagles within 6-4. But Mississippi College scored three runs in the top of the fifth to move ahead 9-4. In the fifth, Kelsey Mefford, Groff and Henson each had singles to load the bases with one out. Kelsey Stephens brought home Mefford with a sacrifice fly, but Mississippi College ended the rally with an easy infield pop-up. Following Ozarks’ run in the fifth, the Choctaws totaled ten more scores to put the game out of reach.
Mefford (2-7) took the loss.
Groff and Henson each went 2-for-3.
Ozarks will travel to Conway to face Hendrix College April 13.
Topics: Athletics