Game Details:
Saturday, May 5, 2018
Austin, Texas | Tornado Field
ASC Championship Tournament - Game Two
Final: University of the Ozarks 3, East Texas Baptist University 2
Records:
University of the Ozarks (20-19)
East Texas Baptist (21-21)
Overview:
In a game that was dominated by pitching, the Eagles prevailed in a way that they have all season long – late with a comeback. The Eagles trailed all the way until the bottom of the eighth. With two outs, Sam Swartz proved to be the hero as he laced a double down the right field line to bring in Justin Crider and Patrick Clifford in the bottom of the eighth inning. Crider drew a walk and Clifford ripped an RBI single through the left side of the infield to set up the game-winning hit. In the top of the ninth, Corey Steward was inserted to pitch for Jack Waggoner with one out. With runners on first and second, Steward quickly forced a groundball, but shortstop Fielder Dufrene was unable to get an out to load the bases for the Tigers. However, Steward got redemption as he induced a double play ball in the infield to end the game. Second baseman Josh Woolly fielded a grounder, stepped on second base and then threw over to first base for the third out and send the Eagles into a celebration. The Eagles' bats were quiet until the eighth and starting pitcher Dalton Spurgeon kept the Tiger bats in check in his 5.2 innings. Spurgeon fanned five and allowed only four hits. Waggoner tossed 2.2 innings and struck out three to receive the win. Steward recorded the save in .2 innings of work. Swartz drove in two runs and the Eagles totaled four hits.
Pitching Decisions:
WP: Jack Waggoner (W, 3-0) 2.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 SO
LP: Derrick Findley (L, 4-2) 7.2 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 9 SO
Ozarks' Scoring Summary:
Bottom of 8th Inning
Bryce Elder reached first on a fielding error by cf.
Matt Alamia pinch ran for Bryce Elder.
Justin Crider walked; Matt Alamia advanced to second.
Dakota Ebarb fouled out to c, bunt. (1 out)
Breyden Varner struck out looking. (2 out)
Patrick Clifford singled through the left side, RBI; Justin Crider advanced to second; Matt Alamia scored, unearned.
Sam Swartz doubled to right field, 2 RBI; Patrick Clifford scored, unearned; Justin Crider scored, unearned.
Blake Corbin to p for Derrick Findley.
Josh Woolly hit by pitch.
Patrick Mixon struck out swinging. (3 out)
Notables:
It was the first playoff win for the Eagles since the 2008 season.
Sam Swartz drove in the game-winning run with a double down the right field line.
Pitching was the story of the game as three Eagle pitchers combined to allow just five hits.
Up Next:
The Eagles will play either Concordia University Texas or UT-Tyler Saturday night at 7:00 p.m.
