Clarksville, Ark. - The University of the Ozarks baseball team used a massive fourth inning to break open game one and roll to a 15-4 win over LeTourneau University.
It was a big night for head coach Aaron Gentry as he won his 150th career game at Ozarks.
Ozarks trailed early before erupting for 10 runs in the fourth inning, turning a one-run deficit into a commanding lead they would not relinquish.
LeTourneau struck first with a two-run double in the opening inning and added two more runs in the second to take a 4-3 advantage. The Eagles answered in the first behind RBI hits from Connor Reed and Matthew McDonald to stay within striking distance.
The game shifted dramatically in the bottom of the fourth. Ozarks capitalized on walks, wild pitches, and timely hitting to score 10 runs highlighted by a three-run triple from Rene Garcia and a three-run home run by Gabriel Ellison. The Eagles also benefited from several unearned runs during the inning.
Ozarks continued to add on with a run in the fifth and another in the sixth, including a solo home run from Taber Childs to cap the scoring.
Ellison led the offensive charge, going 3-for-4 with four RBI and a home run. Garcia added three RBI, while McDonald drove in three runs. Childs scored four times and homered, and Reed contributed a pair of runs scored.
On the mound, Boyd Peck earned the win after working 1.1 innings in relief. Logan Tucker provided a key middle stretch, tossing three scoreless innings, while Jose Sianca closed the door with two shutout frames and four strikeouts.
The Eagles finished with nine hits but drew nine walks and took advantage of LeTourneau miscues to fuel the offensive outburst.
In game two, the Eagles offense stayed red-hot Saturday afternoon, erupting for nine runs in the fourth inning to secure a 17-12 win over LeTourneau and clinch the conference series.
The Eagles overcame an early six-run deficit, responding with 17 runs on 15 hits in a back-and-forth slugfest.
LeTourneau jumped out quickly, scoring four runs in the first inning and adding two more in the second on back-to-back home runs to take a 6-0 lead.
The Eagles answered in the second inning, capitalizing on a balk before Taber Childs launched a three-run home run to cut the deficit to 6-4. The Eagles tied the game in the third when Matthew McDonald delivered a two-run homer.
The decisive moment came in the fourth inning, when the Eagles exploded for nine runs. Gabriel Ellison and Connor Reed each delivered two-run hits, while Tyler Michlitsch, Joseph Coon, and Rene Garcia all added RBI knocks. The Eagles also took advantage of defensive miscues to extend the lead to 15-6.
The Eagles continued to build its cushion in the fifth as Brett Burks crushed a two-run home run to make it 17-6.
LeTourneau mounted a late push with runs in the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings, but Ozarks' bullpen limited the damage to secure the win.
Michlitsch led the offense with a 3-for-5 performance and three runs scored. Coon added three hits and two runs, while Garcia finished with two hits and two RBI. Childs drove in three runs and reached base six times, and McDonald and Burks each homered with two RBI.
On the mound, Evan Curry earned the win in relief, tossing 3.2 innings while allowing just one run. The Eagles used a total of seven pitchers in the contest to navigate the high-scoring affair.
The Eagles will host University of St. Thomas March 27-28.
