Clarksville, Ark. – After leading for four innings, the Eagles lost the lead in the fifth inning and were unable to recover, dropping game one 10-8 in their conference-opener against East Text Baptist University Friday.

Ozarks (5-4, 0-1 ASC) had a commanding second inning where it scored four runs on five hits, the highlight of which was a two-run triple to deep right center by Dean Igert.  East Texas Baptist (8-2, 1-0 ASC) answered with two runs in the top of the third, but Ozarks fired right back with an RBI groundout by Alex Smith that scored Patrick Clifford followed by Justin Crider stealing home to go up 6-3. Dylan Sumpter recorded his second home run of the season with a two-run shot over the right field wall, bringing East Texas Baptist within 6-5 in the fourth. Ozarks answered with a sacrifice fly by Andrew Beck, making it 7-5 after four innings.

Hunter Coleman came in for starting pitcher Keaton Ramsey with runners on second and third in the fifth inning, then a softly hit line drive by Brice Winter plated two runs for the Tigers. East Texas Baptist brought in two more runs in the top of the sixth, moving up 9-7. A sacrifice fly by Dakota Ebarb brought the Eagles within one in the sixth inning, but Ozarks was unable to score again and fell 10-8 in game one against East Texas Baptist.

Both teams tallied 12 hits for the game and four different Eagles recorded two hits each.

Hunter Coleman (0-1) took the loss for the Eagles, throwing 1.1 innings.

Ozarks will continue its series with East Texas Baptist tomorrow in a double-header beginning at 12:00 p.m.

By Jackie Bacon