Clarksville, Ark.-After jumping out to a 9-1 lead, the Eagles held off Hendrix College to earn a 9-8 win Tuesday afternoon in non-conference play.
Sophomore left-hander Jordan Allred (1-0) received the win after allowing just one hit as the starter. Allred went four and one-third innings and left the game with a 9-1 lead. Hendrix (0-4) eventually chipped away at the lead, scoring three in the fifth and four in the sixth to close the gap to 9-8. Allred was given run support as scored Ozarks (2-2) scored five in the first frame behind three hits. In the third, Casey Jirkovsky doubled in a pair of runs to make it 7-0. Alex Smith then added an RBI to give Ozarks a 8-0 cushion after three complete innings. Allred quickly worked through the first inning with three straight groundouts, but run into trouble in the second loading the bases with one out. Allred was able to get a force out at home and then a line out to end the threat. Freshman Luke Dyer was inserted in the top of the sixth with the lead and earned the save. Dyer got the first batter he faced to fly out to right field to end a scoring threat. Dyer then cruised through the final three innings allowing just two hits. Dyer finished with three strikeouts.
Grady Finley went 4-for-5 with two runs and Jirkovsky drove in four runs behind three hits.
Ozarks will host Westminster College (Mo.) Saturday and Sunday.
