'Roos Drop Series Opener to Ozarks

SHERMAN, Texas - The Austin College baseball team fell 8-3 in its Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference series opener against the University of the Ozarks on Friday evening at Baker Field. The 'Roos are now 13-24 overall and 8-20 in conference play.

A throwing error opened the door for the first run of the game for Ozarks in the top of the first, and another run came home in the inning via a sacrifice fly from Phillip Drilling to make it 2-0, and that's how things would stand until the sixth inning. The Eagles got three more runs in the top of the sixth to push it to a 5-0 game, beginning with a two-run single by Rene Garcia, and an error brought home another run to give Ozarks a five-run cushion.

Austin College got three runs back in the bottom of the eighth, as Greg Smith was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded for the first run of the frame, and RayShawn Riley scored on a wild pitch to make it 5-2. Isaac Villa plated Mason Woodhouse with an infield single to bring Austin College back to within two runs heading into the ninth.

However, the Eagles got all three runs back in the top of the ninth, with another error helping to get the first run across while Garcia plated another with a sacrifice fly, and an infield single by Collin May got the final run of the contest home to make it an 8-3 final. Blake Goodridge took the loss for Austin College, giving up five runs, three earned, on six hits with five strikeouts and three walks in 6.0 innings of work, while Jake Estrada got the win for Ozarks after giving up one run on six hits in 7.0 innings of action. Desmond Squalls was 2-for-5 to lead Austin College at the plate, while Langdon Townsend was 4-for-5 with two doubles to pace Ozarks.

Austin College and the Eagles will wrap up the series and the season on Saturday, with a doubleheader scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m. following Senior Day recognition for the 'Roos.