Ozarks (8-5) was not as fortunate in game two of the double-header as Hardin-Simmons (8-5) pounded out 20 hits and won 15-1 in nine innings.
In game one, hits were at a premium as cold temperatures affected both teams in the seven-inning contest. Erickson, though, put on one of his strongest performances of the early season using a heavy dose of fastballs to strike out nine. Erickson, who threw around 60 fastballs, gave up just one hit in the first three innings and only issued one walk the entire game.
The Eagles manufactured two runs in the first inning behind three hits. Sam Shook started things off for the Eagles when he ripped a single to centerfield. Mitchell Powers followed with a hit up the middle and Tony Morales then looped a double down the leftfield line to score Shook. Powers would cross the plate after a balk by Hardin-Simmons starter James Simmons for the second run.
After that, Erickson and Simmons for the most part kept runners off the bases. Hardin-Simmons Chris Matthews opened the fifth with a double to centerfield, and then attempted to stretch it into a triple, but Rodger Montano threw to second baseman Nick Brill, who launched a perfect throw to Peyton Johnigan at third to get Matthews out.
Erickson worked his way out of jam in the sixth after Hardin-Simmons had runners at first and third with one out. Erickson got Troy Nicholson to strike out looking and then got aneasy dribbler in the infield to end the threat.
Shook paced Ozarks with two hits. Simmons fanned 11 in the game.
In game two, Ozarks allowed four runs in the first inning and three more in the second inning to build itself a quick hole. Hardin-Simmons went ahead 8-0 before Ozarks would finally score a run. The Cowboys' offense didn't slow down either as the visitors added four runs in the seventh and three runs in the eighth. The Eagles collected just six hits in the game. Freddy Prince (0-1) took the loss. John Singler tossed four and two-third innings and struck out five.
Ozarks and Hardin-Simmons University will conclude their series tomorrow with a nine-inning game at 12:00 p.m.
