Clarksville, Ark.-Howard Payne University overcame a dominating pitching performance from relief pitcher Alex Rodriguez to take a 6-2 win over the Eagles in game three Saturday in American Southwest Conference play.

Rodriguez threw five and two-third innings and struck out eight. Rodriguez faced a 4-1 deficit when he entered the game in the second inning and quickly struck out two in the frame. Howard Payne (5-5, 2-4 ASC) jumped on starter Tyler Erickson for a pair of home runs and eventually four runs. The Eagles (3-7, 1-5 ASC) produced one run in the first and third innings behind RBI from Tony Morales. Ozarks was thrown out twice at home to end two rallies during the game. Rodriguez fanned four of the first seven batters he faced. In the sixth inning, the right-hander got a big strikeout to end a threat after Howard Payne advanced a player to third base.

Erickson (0-2) suffered the loss.

Freddy Prince went 4-for-4 and Sam Shook went 3-for-4 to lead Ozarks at the plate.
      
Ozarks will travel to Tyler, Texas, to face Texas-Tyler next weekend for a three-game series beginning March 7.