Posted: Apr 13, 2005
Ozarks (7-22-1) four-run fourth inning snapped a 3-3 tie and propelled the Lady Eagles on to a convincing victory over the Lady Warriors (16-15-2). Ozarks scored first in the game, putting two across the plate in the bottom of the first inning. In the inning, Ozarks drilled out five hits. Shannon Rainbolt led off with a single and then advanced to third on an errant throw by the second baseman. Jessica Pianalto singled and collected an RBI when Rainbolt scored. Brooke Grice then doubled in Pianalto to give Ozarks a 2-0 lead. Hendrix battled back to score two runs in the top of the second and one run in the third to take a 3-2 advantage. That would be all the Lady Warriors would get as starting pitcher Chanceree Catlett allowed only two hits the rest of the game. Ozarks answered with a run of their won in the bottom of the third when Jeanne Randall knocked in Erica Newell, who had reached on a double. The fourth inning proved to the back-breaker for Hendrix. Kara Bartholomew got on base with a single and then stole second base. Rainbolt singled and Pianalto then recorded a sacrifice bunt and RBI. Grice continued the offensive output when she knocked in Rainbolt. Hendrix then made the mistake of pitching to the power-hitting Chelsea Joslin. Joslin cranked out her sixth home run of the year to give Ozarks a 7-3 lead. Grice gave the Lady Eagles their last run of the game with a sacrifice fly. The Lady Eagles collected 14 hits in the contest. Rainbolt went 4-for-4 with three runs. Grice ended the game with three RBI. Catlett (3-12) had six strikeouts in the win. The Lady Eagles didn't fair as well in the second game, giving up two runs in the top of the seventh run on a two-run homer. Ozarks was then unable to score in the bottom half of the inning as the Lady Warriors starting pitcher sat down three straight batters. The low-scoring affair was due to solid pitching by both teams. Ozarks collected just two hits while Hendrix recorded five. Grice had one RBI. Dana Marvin (4-9) received the loss. Ozarks travels to Longview, Texas, to face LeTourneau University from April 15-16 for a four-game series.
