Clarksville, Ark.-The University of the Ozarks softball team got off to a good start in American Southwest Conference East Division play with a pair of wins over UT-Dallas on Friday afternoon.
<#IMAGE:1#>In game one, Ozarks (5-6, 1-0) had a big second inning scoring four runs on three hits en route to a 9-5 victory. Brooke Grice delivered a two-out double that scored both Kara Bartholomew and Stacy Simpson in the inning to set the tone. In the fifth, Nicole Ashley scored on a wild pitch and Jessica Pianalto knocked in Jodie Clark to pad the lead 7-3. In the sixth, Ashley cranked out a double that scored Danielle Dirks and Tiffany Armstrong. Ozarks out hit UT-Dallas 12-10. Simpson went 3-for-5 with 2 RBI and Ashley finished 3-for-4 with 2 RBI and 2 runs. Grice had a pair of RBI. Andrea Mitchell (3-4) received the win after pitching seven innings. She did not allow a walk. Ozarks scored six runs in the third inning and totaled 14 hits as they took a 11-6 win over UT-Dallas (6-9, 0-4) in the second game of Friday’s double-header. Ozarks collected only two hits in the sixth, but took advantage of having the bases loaded for most of the inning. Grice recorded an RBI after she was hit by a pitch with the bases juiced. Danielle Dirks, Ashley and Jodie Clark drew back-to-back-to-back bases loaded walks to score three more. Dirks eventually scored on a wild pitch and Ashley scored on an error. With a 6-0 lead after three, UT-Dallas answered with three runs in the top of the fourth, but Ozarks put two more on the board in the bottom half of the inning to make it 8-3. Nicole’s two-run double was the highlight of the fourth inning. Chelsea Joslin went 3-for-5 to lead Ozarks at the plate. Grice finished 2-for-4 with 3 RBI. Ashley had 3 RBI. Stephany Henson (3-2) received the win after going seven innings and striking out four. The Lady Eagles will again host the Comets tomorrow in a double-header beginning at 12:00 p.m.
Topics: Athletics