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Smith’s Sacrifice Fly Provides Game-Winning Run

Smith’s Sacrifice Fly Provides Game-Winning Run

Clarksville, Ark.-Jake Smith recorded a sacrifice fly to right field to push across the game-winning run against Mary Hardin-Baylor in Saturday's American Southwest Conference 5-4 win.
    
Fans can watch the game here: http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/60193277
     
With the score tied 4-4 heading into the bottom of the ninth, Andrew Beck led off with a deep double to left centerfield. Grady Finley then recorded a perfect sacrifice bunt to move Beck to third base. With one out, Smith sent a ball to right field, deep enough to score Beck and send the Eagles (6-14, 3-10 ASC) into a frenzied celebration.
    
Senior right-hander John Singler started on the mound and went seven and one-third innings. Singler received a no decision, but was effective throughout the game, allowing two runs and not walking a single batter. Singler limited Mary Hardin-Baylor (9-8, 7-5 ASC) to four hits through seven complete innings. Matthew Dixon was inserted in the eighth and left the bases loaded by striking out a batter and forcing a flyout to end the threat. Alex Rodriguez pitched the ninth inning to improve his record to 3-2. Rodriguez allowed just one hit.
    
Ozarks put three runs on the board in the second inning to gain a 3-0 advantage. Ozarks recorded five hits in the frame, with Casey Rayburn and Dean Igert driving in runs. Left fielder Jordan Jones robbed KJ Stark of a sure double in the third with an over-the-shoulder catch, but Mary Hardin-Baylor came back to score one run in the sixth and seventh innings, and two in the eighth to take a 4-3 lead. Ozarks responded with a run in the bottom of the eighth on an Alex Smith groundout RBI.
    
Alex Smith, Shook and Igert each had two hits for Ozarks.
    
Ozarks will travel to Walnut Ridge, Ark., to face Williams Baptist College in a double-header March 26.