The University of the Ozarks baseball team returns seven starters and six All-Conference players to form a veteran club entering the 2018 season. Seven position players return to starting roles this season, while numerous pitchers return from a year ago. The Eagles open the season with 12 consecutive home games.
"We are bringing back a lot of guys overall who understand what they are up against in terms of competition in this conference," said head coach Aaron Gentry. "For us to turn the corner, the guys just have to perform. Most notably, guys must perform on the mound, and as a team, our defense must come through. We have to have pitchers that are able to go deep in the game. Offensively, we need to cut down on the number of strikeouts. We need to make more consistent contact and force the defense to make plays against us."
Spearheading the offensive attack are returning All-Conference players Justin Crider (OF), Patrick Clifford (UT), Chase Edwards (1B), Josh Woolly (2B), Dakota Ebarb (3B) and Bryce Elder (C). Crider was named All-Region after leading the team in slugging percentage (.635), triples (4), doubles (17), runs (40), total bases (94), stolen bases (7) and walks (21). He finished second in hitting (.365), home runs (5) and hits (54), and third in on-base percentage (.458) and RBI (23). Crider hit for the cycle with a 4-for-5 performance against Grinnell College. Clifford finished third on the team in batting (.343) and slugging percentage (.582). He also recorded eight doubles and two home runs, including a dramatic walk-off homer against Texas Dallas. He posted 15 RBI and 23 hits. Edwards posted one of the top freshman seasons in program history. He led the team with a .390 batting average, and recorded a team-best 57 hits, 32 RBI and six home runs. He finished second on the team in slugging percentage (.582), runs (27), total bases (85) and on-base percentage (.465). Woolly drove in 26 runs, second-most on the team, and recorded 11 doubles, also second-most on the team. He ranked third in hits (40) and home runs (3). He owned a .265 batting average, .411 slugging percentage and posted 62 total bases. Ebarb hit .299 with five doubles, 14 RBI and 26 hits. He also posted a .378 on-base percentage. He homered once and ended the year with 34 total bases. He had seven multiple-hit games, including a 5-for-5 performance against Grinnell College. Elder hit .270 with 20 hits and 15 runs. He owned a .969 fielding percentage. Elder led the team with a .518 on-base percentage. He also led the team in hit by pitches with 22.
"We are returning a lot of guys on the mound," said Gentry. "We are looking at several guys to get multiple innings this year."
Right-hander Dalton Spurgeon led the team with nine starts and returns for his junior season. Spurgeon tossed 32.2 innings and struck out 21. Right-hander Jack Waggoner and Gyeongju Kim both had six starts last season, while Jacob Barker and Hayden Keller tied for the team-lead with 14 appearances. Waggoner posted three wins and Kim made a splash when he retired 18 straight batters against Belhaven last season. Barker posted a team-high three saves. Keller, a left-hander, owned a team-best 2.73 ERA.
2017 Record (ASC): 12-26 (6-17)
2017 Conference Finish: 12th
2017 Post-Season Tournament: None
Returning Starters: Dakota Ebarb (3B/Junior/Lavon, Texas); Chase Edwards (1B/Sophomore/Chandler, Ariz.); Justin Crider (OF/Senior/Dallas, Texas); Bryce Elder (C/Senior/Ottawa, Kan.); Josh Woolly (2B/Senior/Spiro, Okla.); Patrick Mixon (OF/Senior/Lewisville, Texas); and Fielder Dufrene (SS/Junior/Clinton, Ark.)
Newcomers: Rocky Liveoak (RHP/OF/Senior/Neosho, Mo.); Garrett Stevens (LHP/OF/Freshman/Chattaroy, Wash.); Dylan Montgomery (RHP/Freshman/Fort Smith, Ark.); James Gilmore (OF/Sophomore/Tuscola, Texas); Sam Swartz (INF/Junior/Granby, Mo.); Tyler Arco (OF/Freshman/Argyle, Texas); David Beck (RHP/Freshman/Conway, Ark.); Michel Rankin (OF/Freshman/Charleston, Ark.); Garrett Williams (RHP/Freshman/Fayetteville, Ark.); Breyden Varner (INF/Junior/Skiatook, Okla.); Mason BaDour (Catcher/Freshman/Richardson, Texas); Matt Alamia (OF/Freshman/Plano, Texas); and Corey Steward (RHP/INF/Junior/Wichita, Kans.)
Batting
2017 Top Batting Average: Chase Edwards (.390)
2017 Top RBI Producer: Chase Edwards (32)
2017 Most HR: Chase Edwards (6)
2017 Most Runs: Justin Crider (40)
Pitching
2017 Lowest ERA: Hayden Keller (2.73)
2017 Most IP: Jack Waggoner (38.2)
2017 Most Strikeouts: Gyeongju Kim (41)
All-Conference Players Returning: Justin Crider, senior outfielder - First Team; Patrick Clifford, senior utility player - Third Team; Chase Edwards, sophomore first baseman - Honorable Mention; Josh Woolly, senior second baseman - Honorable Mention; Dakota Ebarb, junior third baseman - Honorable Mention; and Bryce Elder, senior catcher - Honorable Mention.
Program Playoff Appearances: 2007, 2008, 2009
Coach Gentry Quotes:
"We are bringing back a lot of guys overall who understand what they are up against in terms of competition in this conference. For us to turn the corner, the guys just have to perform. Most notably, guys must perform on the mound, and as a team, our defense must come through. We have to have pitchers that are able to go deep in the game. Offensively, we need to cut down on the number of strikeouts. We need to make more consistent contact and make the defense make plays against us."
2018 Schedule
February
9 vs Berea College (DH) - 12:00 pm
10 vs Berea College (DH) - 12:00 pm
13 vs Hendrix College - 2:00 pm
17 vs Millikin University - 12:00 pm
18 vs Millikin University (DH) - 12:00 pm
24 vs Westminster College (DH) - 12:00 pm
25 vs Westminster College - 1:00 pm
27 vs Hendrix College - 2:00 pm
March
2 at *Concordia University Texas - 7:00 pm
3 at *Concordia University Texas (DH) - 1:00 pm
9 vs *Sul Ross State University - 2:00 pm
10 vs *Sul Ross State University (DH) - 12:00 pm
16 at *Howard Payne University (DH) - 1:00 pm
17 at *Howard Payne University - 1:00 pm
23 vs *University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (DH) - 1:00 pm
24 vs *University of Mary Hardin-Baylor - 1:00 pm
27 at Hendrix College - 6:00 pm
29 at *LeTourneau University - 7:00 pm
30 at *LeTourneau University (DH) - 1:00 pm
April
7 at Monmouth (DH) - 1:00 pm
10 at Hendrix College - 6:00 pm
13 vs *Hardin-Simmons University (DH) - 1:00 pm
14 vs *Hardin-Simmons University - 1:00 pm
20 at *East Texas Baptist University - 7:00 pm
21 at *East Texas Baptist University (DH) - 1:00 pm
27 vs *Belhaven University (DH) - 1:00 pm
28 vs *Belhaven University - 1:00 pm (Senior Day)
May
4-12 at American Southwest Conference Championship Tournament
*American Southwest Conference Game
