CLARKSVILLE, Arkansas – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor baseball team posted three multiple-run innings, but could not hold off the offensive attack of the University of the Ozarks as the Cru dropped a 21-13 decision in a slugfest Saturday afternoon in Clarksville, Arkansas. UMHB falls to 8-16 overall and 5-7 in American Southwest Conference play following the loss. The Eagles improve to 13-9 overall and 8-4 in the ASC after completing the series sweep.
The Cru jumped out to 5-0 lead when Landon Dieterich and Malek Bolin wrapped two-run homers around Dakota Best's RBI grounder. Dieterich added a two-run triple and Mark Frankhouser blasted a two-run home run of his own as UMHB stretched the lead to 9-0 in the top of the third. Ozarks put up six runs in the bottom of the third, highlighted by Patrick Clifford's grand slam to close the gap to 9-6. Caleb Davis ripped a three-run homer in the top of the fifth to give the Cru a 12-6 edge. A two-run single and run-scoring error pulled the Eagles to within 12-9 in the bottom of the fifth and Ozarks exploded for ten more runs in the bottom of the sixth. Breyden Varner hit a three-run homer and Patrick Mixon added a grand slam in the frame as the Eagles built a 19-12 lead. Ozarks would add two more runs in the bottom of the eighth to push the lead to 21-12. Dawson Shibley singled home a run in the top of the ninth to cut it to the final margin for UMHB.
Jacob Krzemien took the loss for the Cru to drop to 1-1 on the season. Sibley led UMHB with three hits and four other players added two hits apiece. Dieterich drove in four runs and three other players had two or more RBI in the game. Jacob Barker earned the win for Ozarks to move to 2-0 on the year. Josh Woolly and Rocky Liveoak had four hits apiece and Mixon drove in six runs for the Eagles in the victory
The Cru will now return home to host Trinity University for a 6 pm non-conference game on Tuesday at Red Murff Field. UMHB will have next weekend off before playing host to Texas Lutheran for a 6 pm non-conference game on Tuesday, April 3rd.
