Clarksville, Ark.-The Eagles took three losses in American Southwest Conference action to UT-Tyler in Tyler, Texas, over the weekend.
UT-Tyler (20-13, 10-8) gained wins of 13-11, 5-4 and 9-6, despite the Eagles (13-24, 2-16) out hitting the Patriots 32-27 during their three-games series. The Eagles offense got going in the final inning of play scoring six runs after facing a 13-5 deficit heading into the ninth inning in their 13-11 loss on Friday. Ozarks scored six runs on four hits in the ninth, with RBI’s coming from Rusty Farrin, Todd Vandevior, Cliff Ford, Caleb Hilton, Clint Phifer and Justin Brown. Ozarks out hit the Patriots 16-11, but left 12 runners on base. Brown and Farrin each hit home runs in the game. Brian Heckmann went 3-for-5 and Farrin ended the game going 3-for-5 with two RBI. Trevor Holbert (0-3) received the loss. The Eagles battled back from a 4-2 deficit in the ninth inning to tie the game at 4-4 in Saturday’s 5-4 loss. Vandevoir slapped a single to drive in Phifer to make the score 4-3 in the top half of the inning. Anthony Brandon knocked in Hilton to tie the contest at 4-4. UT-Tyler, however, would score the game-winning run in their final at-bat when the Patriots scored on a sacrifice bunt. Brandon had a team-best two hits. Ozarks ended the game being out hit 7-6. Brian Heckmann (2-5) received the loss. Ozarks took a 6-5 lead into the bottom of the fourth inning before suffering a 9-6 loss in Saturday’s second game. The Eagles tied the game at 4-4 after two innings of play when Hilton smashed a three-run homer. It was Hilton’s third home of the year. Brown’s two-run homer in the fifth gave Ozarks a 6-5 lead, but the Patriots scored four runs in the bottom half of the inning to grab the win. It was Brown’s fifth home run of the season. Ozarks again out hit UT-Tyler 10-9 in the contest while leaving nine runners on base. Brown went 3-for-4 with two RBI to lead Ozarks. Brandon broke the Eagles single-season hit record in the UT-Tyler series. Brandon’s hit total is now 51, breaking the previous record of 48 set by Shawn Adams in 2000. Brandon also extended his hitting streak to a school-record 21 games. Brandon tied the school record for RBI in a season with 32. Matt Wilson (1-3) received the loss. Ozarks ends their season with a three-game American Southwest Conference series against LeTourneau University (9-27, 6-12) this weekend in Clarksville. Friday’s nine-inning contest will start at 2 p.m. Saturday’s double-header begins at 1 p.m.
Topics: Athletics