Alpine, Texas-The University of the Ozarks softball team had a big fourth inning and then pushed across an insurance run in the seventh to secure a 3-1 victory Friday over Sul Ross State University in game one of its series.
    
With the game scoreless after three innings, Ozarks (3-5, 3-5 ASC) took advantage of two Sul Ross State (3-10, 1-7 ASC) errors to plate two runs in the fourth. Brooke Hoffsommer, who was hit by a pitch, and Haley Hardy, who reached on an error, scored for the Eagles. After the Lobos responded with a run in the bottom of the fourth, the Eagles produced a key run in the seventh on an RBI from Laken Gray. Gray grounded out to the shortstop, but still pushed across Hannah Ward.

The Lobos put two runners in the scoring position in the bottom of the seventh with one out to make things interesting, but Hannah Oler forced a groundout and a fly out to end the game.

The Eagles generated two hits in the contest, while Sul Ross had six.

Oler moves to 2-3 on the season.

In game two, Sul Ross State turned a 4-2 game into an 8-2 game with a big four-run fourth inning and took a 10-5 win.

Krysten Shavers had an RBI in the first and Katie Ventress added another in the fifth.

Ozarks scored twice in the sixth inning, but could have done more damage. With one out and the bases loaded, Oler drew a walk to score one run. With two outs and the bases still loaded, Brooklyn Keeling ripped a single up the middle to score another run.

Hardy, Laken Gray and Keeling had two hits.

Game three will start at 11:00 a.m. tomorrow.