Clarksville, Ark. - The Eagles took a double-header sweep in impressive fashion over Hardin-Simmons University on Friday afternoon.
GAME ONE
The Eagles used a strong early offensive surge and steady pitching to secure a 7-1 victory over the Cowboys in game one on Friday afternoon.
The Eagles scored three runs in the first two innings and never looked back, finishing with 11 hits in the contest.
The Eagles jumped on the board in the bottom of the first inning when Gabriel Ellison doubled to right center to score Taber Childs for a 1-0 lead. Connor Reed followed with an RBI groundout to push the advantage to 2-0.
The Eagles added another run in the second inning after Matthew McDonald scored on a Hardin-Simmons error to extend the lead to 3-0. Starting pitcher Jake Dempsey cruised through 4.2 innings with a shutout. But Hardin-Simmons broke through in the fifth inning on an RBI single trimming the deficit to 3-1. The Eagles responded immediately in the bottom half of the frame. Brett Burks delivered an RBI single to score Langdon Townsend, and Joseph Coon followed with an RBI double to make it 5-1.
The Eagles put the game away in the sixth inning when Reed ripped a two-run double down the left field line, scoring Ellison and Childs to cap the scoring at 7-1.
Childs led the Eagles at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Burks added two hits and an RBI, while Reed finished with three RBIs.
Dempsey won his second straight game behind another strong outing, tossing five innings while allowing one run on three hits with two strikeouts. Joseph Hardin and Jeter Fulbright combined to close out the final two innings, limiting Hardin-Simmons to two hits.
The Eagles finished the game with seven extra-base hits and turned two double plays defensively.
GAME TWO
The Eagles exploded for 11 runs on 14 hits in game two, rolling past Hardin-Simmons 11-4.
Ozarks improves to 4-0 behind a balanced offensive attack and dominant bullpen work, securing the win in the second game of the day.
The Eagles struck first in the opening inning when Connor Reed delivered a sacrifice fly to plate Taber Childs for a 1-0 lead. Ozarks extended the advantage in the second as Tyler Michlitsch launched a two-run homer to left, scoring Joseph Coon and pushing the lead to 3-0. Hardin-Simmons responded in the third on an RBI single and then tied the game in the fourth with a solo home run and an RBI groundout to make it 3-3. The Eagles answered immediately in the bottom half of the fourth. Reed came through again with a two-run single to right center, scoring Rene Garcia and Britton Smith to reclaim a 5-3 edge. Langdon Townsend crushed a grand slam to right field in the sixth to break the game open at 8-4. The Eagles added insurance runs in the seventh and eighth to put the game out of reach. Townsend finished 2-for-4 with four RBI and two stolen bases. Michlitsch went 3-for-5 with two RBI, Reed went 2-for-4 with three RBI and Coon finished 3-for-4, two runs and a triple.
The Eagles finished with 14 hits and did not commit an error defensively. Jacob Key went four innings in the start before turning it over to the bullpen. Julius McClellan (1-0) earned the win with a scoreless fifth inning. Jose Scianca, Logan Tucker, Rene Garcia and Darren Crane combined to allow just one run over the final four innings to secure the victory.
The Eagles will host Westminster College Saturday at 4:00 p.m.
