Clarksville, AR - After five scoreless innings of play, the Eagles put a run across in the eleventh inning to clinch a 4-3 win in their home-opener against Millikin University.
Josh Woolly led off the eleventh inning by getting on base and advancing to second on a wild throw by Millikin's third baseman. Ozarks added two more runners, bringing Justin Crider up to the plate with the bases loaded. Crider added his third hit of the game with a burner to the second baseman and Woolly beat the throw to home plate, securing the win for the Eagles.
The Big Blue opened scoring in game one of the day with a run in the top of the third, but Ozarks was quick to answer with three consecutive hits to start off the bottom of the inning. Crider opened the inning with a stand-up triple over the center fielder's head. Next up was Zach Jones, who kept things rolling with an RBI double over the right fielder's head. Patrick Mixon then hit an RBI single to right center to bring Jones across.
Devin Crews evened the score at 2-2 for the Big Blue with a solo homer to right field in the fourth, then the Eagles were quick to regain the lead again after a double by Crider that turned into a run because of a throwing error on the play.
The game was tied up 3-3 after Milliken's Mason Bruce scored on a wild pitch in the top of the fifth, then the game would remain scoreless until Ozarks brought the winning run across in the bottom of the eleventh.
Freshman Jack Waggoner made his first career start on the mound for the Eagles, pitching six complete innings with only two earned runs. Dylan McLemore would earn the win for Ozarks after throwing three innings and giving up only one hit with four strikeouts. Ben Peters recorded the loss for the Big Blue.
Game two got underway but was suspended with the game tied 3-3 at the conclusion of the eighth inning due to darkness and will resume at 11:00 a.m. tomorrow, Sunday, Feb. 19th.
By: Jackie Bacon
