Clarksville, Ark. - A dominant outing on the mound paired with timely hitting lifted the University of the Ozarks to a 4-0 shutout win over St. Thomas Friday afternoon in game one.
Ozarks scored all four of its runs in the third inning and rode the arm of Jake Dempsey the rest of the way.
Dempsey delivered one of his strongest performances of the season, tossing a complete-game shutout. The right-hander scattered eight hits across nine innings while striking out seven and walking three. He worked out of multiple jams and kept St. Thomas off the scoreboard despite several scoring opportunities.
The Eagles broke through in the third inning with a two-out rally. Gabriel Ellison got things started with a two-run double to left field, driving in Rene Garcia and Joseph Coon. Moments later, Connor Reed followed with another clutch hit, ripping a double down the left-field line to score Ellison and Taber Childs, extending the lead to 4-0.
That was all the offense the Eagles needed.
At the plate, the Eagles collected eight hits, with Taber Childs and Matthew McDonald each recording two-hit performances. Four different players accounted for Ozarks' doubles in the game, highlighting a lineup that consistently applied pressure.
St. Thomas also tallied eight hits but was unable to capitalize, leaving 13 runners on base. Dempsey's ability to escape trouble proved to be the difference, as Ozarks' defense backed him with solid play throughout.
Armando Rocha took the loss for St. Thomas, allowing four runs on eight hits over seven innings.
Game Two
The Eagles were limited offensively in game two and St. Thomas used a pair of home runs to secure a 3-1 victory.
St. Thomas broke a scoreless tie in the fourth inning when Gabe Garner launched a two-run home run to left field. The Celts added what proved to be the decisive run an inning later on a solo shot by Joseph Sanchez, extending the lead to 3-0.
The Eagles struggled to generate timely hits against St. Thomas starter Micheal Martinez, who tossed seven shutout innings while allowing just four hits and striking out nine.
The Eagles finally broke through in the eighth inning. Gabriel Ellison led off with a double and later scored on a fielder's choice by Matthew McDonald to cut the deficit to 3-1. However, the Eagles could not get any closer as St. Thomas reliever Gilberto Arreozola struck out two in a scoreless ninth to earn the save.
Both teams finished with six hits, but the Eagles left six runners on base and struck out 11 times.
Brett Burks paced the Eagles at the plate, going 2-for-4, while Ellison and McDonald each added extra-base hits.
On the mound, Boyd Peck took the loss despite a solid outing, allowing three runs on five hits over 6.1 innings.
