OVERVIEW
The 2020 version of the University of the Ozarks baseball team will look much different from last year with several new starters dotting the lineup. The Eagles lost five position starters from a year ago, but that will open up opportunities for the club's other players, according to head coach Aaron Gentry. Gentry feels his pitching and defense could be the team's strengths heading into the spring season. David Beck returns to lead the pitching staff. Beck led the team with 56.2 innings pitched and finished second on the team in strikeouts (51). The imposing 6-foot-5 right-handed Beck posted four wins on the mound. Sophomore lefty Blake Benson returns after a strong rookie campaign. Benson posted a 2-3 record in 51.1 innings of work and 38 strikeouts. Zachary Brizendine, Jake Holland, Josh Craven and Garrett Williams are returners expected to bolster the staff. The big bat of Chase Edwards provides the Eagles with a premier offensive threat. Edwards has proved to not only be among the top players in the ASC, but also NCAA Division III. In 2019, Edwards was named to the Google Cloud Academic All-America Second Team as a DH. He additionally earned First Team All-Conference, D3Baseball.com All-Region Second Team and ABCA/Rawlings All-Region Second Team. He ranked ninth in the ASC in batting (.382) and slugging percentage (.625), eighth in RBI (41) and third in home runs (9). He produced 55 hits, including eight doubles, and finished with 21 runs and 90 total bases. Stephens, a short stop, drove in 20 runs and had 42 total bases. He scored 25 times and had two home runs while finishing with 31 hits. Lozano, an outfielder, hit .244 and owned a .989 fielding percentage committing just one error in 37 games. Catcher Erick Aguirre returns for the 2020 season after earning All-Conference. He hit .256 with 30 hits and 14 RBI. He ranked third in the ASC in runners thrown out (13). Gentry and the Eagles, which finished 16-23 overall and 9-12 in the conference, have focused on finishing games during the preseason. 

2019 Record (ASC): 16-23 (9-12)

2019 Conference Finish: 9th

2019 Post-Season ASC Tournament: None

Returning Starters: Erick Aguirre (C); Chase Edwards (DH); Josh Stephens (SS); Rey Lozano (OF); David Beck (RHP); Blake Benson (LHP) 

Newcomers: Josh Hart (OF); Zach Duncan (OF); Josh Stephens (INF); Jordan Semple (INF); Sam Box (INF); Gabriel Helsley (OF); Dylan Kuester (RHP); Frank Yackovich (INF/OF); Dylan McDonald (RHP/1B); Sam Silvestri (C); Trey Vance (C/UT); Kris Sloane (RHP); Chase Stephenson (RHP); Connor Rowe (RHP/3B); and Rennie Arjona (OF)           

Top Returners - Batting
2019 Top Batting Average: Chase Edwards (.382)

2019 Top RBI Producer: Chase Edwards (42)

2019 Most HR: Chase Edwards (9)

2019 Most Runs: Josh Stephens (25)

Top Returners - Pitching
2019 Lowest ERA: Dylan Montgomery (3.55)

2019 Most IP: David Beck (54.2)

2019 Most Strikeouts: David Beck (51)

All-Conference Players Returning: Chase Edwards - First Team; Erick Aguirre - Honorable Mention

Program Playoff Appearances: 2007, 2008, 2009, 2018

Coach Gentry Quotes:
"We need to finish ball games. At times last season, I felt like we lost our focus. We have been harping on finishing innings and finishing outs. We need to trust each other's abilities and the decisions we make. The work ethic and attitude have been great. We got off to a great start. We had some representatives from the Marine Corp come in and conduct some physical training and leadership training. The seniors on down to the freshmen have responded well."

2020 Schedule
FEBRUARY
8 at Austin College (DH)
9 at Austin College
11 at Harding
15 vs Westminster (DH)
16 vs Westminster 
18 vs Hendrix College
21 vs McMurry * (DH)
22 vs McMurry *
28 at Hardin-Simmons * (DH)
29 at Hardin-Simmons *

MARCH
3 at Hendrix College
6 vs Sul Ross St. * (DH)
7 vs Sul Ross St. *
14 vs Grinnell (DH)
15 vs Grinnell
20 at Howard Payne * (DH)
21 at Howard Payne *
27 at Louisiana College * (DH)
28 at Louisiana College *

APRIL
3 vs East Texas Baptist *
4 vs East Texas Baptist * (DH)
7 vs Hendrix College
9 vs LeTourneau * (DH)
10 vs LeTourneau *
17 at Belhaven * (DH)
18 at Belhaven *
24 at Texas-Dallas *
25 at Texas-Dallas * (DH)

April 30- May 2
ASC Championship Tournament - First Round

May 7-9
ASC Championship Tournament - Final Round

*American Southwest Conference Game
Home Games in BOLD