Clarksville, Ark.-The Lady Eagles scored a combined 20 runs to open the 2008 season with a pair of wins against Robert Morris College on Saturday.
Ozarks (2-0, 0-0) pounded out 15 hits in a 13-5 victory in game one, and then needed back-to-back doubles in the bottom of the fifth to break a 5-5 tie in a 7-5 win in game two.
In game one, the Lady Eagles had four straight singles in the first, with Chelsea Joslin picking up two RBI in the inning. A Stacy Simpson two-run single in the bottom of the second gave Ozarks what seemed to be a comfortable 5-0 advantage. Robert Morris (0-2), however, answered with five runs on five hits in the third to tie the contest at 5-5. Not to be outdone, the Lady Eagles promptly scored six runs in the bottom half of the third to take a 11-5 lead. Freshman left-hander Kaitlyn Poirier led off the inning with a triple. Danielle Dirks and Ashleigh Roberts then recorded back-to-back infield singles to load the bases for Nicole Ashley. Ashley drew a walk to score one, and Cassie Saorrono followed with a single up the middle to score Dirks. Simpson received an RBI on a ground out to the shortstop. Sarah Otteman also fell victim to a ground out, but the ball in play scored Ashley and gave Ozarks a 9-5 lead. Joslin then hit a shot to right field that scored both Jessica Pianalto and Saorrono. Holding a 11-5 lead, Ozarks starting pitcher Stephany Henson forced a ground out and two fly outs in the fourth. The Lady Eagles got a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the fourth when Pianalto and Otteman each recorded RBI singles. Henson then closed the deal when she had a strikeout, fly out and ground out to run rule the visitors.
Henson (1-0) received the win after going five innings and striking out five.
Joslin finished 2-for-4 with 4 RBI. Simpson went 3-for-4 with 3 RBI and Pianalto went 3-for-4.
Facing a 5-5 tie in game two, Joslin and Poirier had back-to-back RBI doubles in the bottom of the fifth to send the Lady Eagles to their second win of the day. Otteman led off the bottom of the fifth with a single to right field. Joslin then drove in Otteman with a shot to left field. Poirier delivered another double to left field to score Joslin.
Ozarks led 3-0 after the first behind a four-hit attack. Joslin, Poirier and Dirks all received RBI in the inning. Ozarks added two more runs in the bottom of the second on a Simpson two-run single. Trailing 5-1, Robert Morris would tie the game in the top of the fourth after scoring four on five hits.
Freshman pitcher Brittany Thompson opened her collegiate career with a victory. Thompson went five innings and struck out three. Otteman received the save after throwing the final two frames.
Both Joslin and Poirier went 2-for-3 with 2 RBI.
Ozarks will host Eureka College on Monday in a double-header beginning at 2:00 p.m.
Topics: Athletics