Posted: Mar 19, 2004
The Choctaws (11-4, 4-0), ranked 18th in the country, jumped out to a 9-0 lead going into the bottom of the sixth before Ozarks (10-9, 1-3) scored four runs in the sixth to cut the deficit to 9-4. Brett Hays started the sixth with a single, with Clint Phifer following Hays with a single of his own. Anthony Brandon walked later in the inning to load the bases. Cliff Ford then recorded a fielder's choice RBI to put runners on first and third. Rusty Farrin clubbed his first home run of the season to give Ozarks three additional runs and made the score 9-4. The Eagles would add one more run in the eighth when Caleb Hilton hit an opposite field lead-off home run to give Ozarks five runs. However, Hilton's shot would be Ozarks' final run of the nine-inning contest. Mississippi College collected 10 hits while the Eagles recorded eight. Ozarks left seven runners on base in the game, including two in the first inning with just one out. Hays went 2-for-5 at the plate to lead Ozarks in hits. Farrin had a team-best three RBI. Justin Jennings (2-2) received the loss after pitching one and one-third inning. Tyler Gideon recorded a team-best two strikeouts in relief. The Eagles continue American Southwest Conference action against Mississippi College tomorrow in a seven-inning double-header beginning at 12 p.m.
