Unearned Runs Prove Costly In Game Three Loss

Unearned Runs Prove Costly In Game Three Loss

Clarksville, Ark. – Freshman Ely Gordon threw six full innings and gave up only one earned run, but there were four unearned runs during his time on the mound and the Eagles dropped game three 8-3 against Howard Payne Friday.

Ozarks (9-13, 3-9 ASC) got the offense rolling early in the game. Zach Walker had a leadoff single up the middle to start off the first inning. Patrick Clifford later followed in the inning with an RBI single to deep right center to score Walker. In the second, Walker came through with a two-out RBI single to center, giving Ozarks the 2-0 lead through two complete innings.

The Yellow Jackets (9-7, 5-4 ASC) started to chip away at the lead midway through the game, plating one run in the fourth and another in the fifth. Four unearned runs plagued the Eagles in the sixth and seventh inning and Howard Payne took an 8-2 lead through seven.

The Eagles would go on to add one more run in the eighth with an RBI grounder by Gabriel Rodriguez that scored Adam Winter, but that concluded scoring for the day for either team.

Overall, Ozarks had more hits for the game than Howard Payne, edging them out 12-11 in the hitting battle. The difference in the game was that the Yellow Jackets were able to string together timely hits, while Ozarks ended up leaving 13 runners on base throughout the game. 

Walker, Clifford, Rodriguez, and Winter each had two hits for the day.

The Eagles will be back in action on Tuesday, March 29 in Wilburton, Okla. against Austin College.

By Jackie Bacon