Conway, Ark. - Hendrix responded to a series sweep versus Berry and a lengthy spell on the road by defeating Ozarks 9-1 on Tuesday night at Warrior Baseball Field. It was the Warriors' first home game since March 18.
Hendrix loaded the bases with the top of the order in the first, and
Shaun Pope eventually scored on an RBI groundout by
Ian Guthrie.
Austin Rabago then singled in
Zane Nolan on an infield hit, and
Owen Shaw scored the third run of the inning when
Jacob Carpentier wore a pitch with the bases loaded. Ozarks was able to get out of the bases loaded jam with an inning-ending double play.
The Eagles got a run back in the next half inning, Hendrix tacked on three runs in the fourth inning.
Joseph Watts led off the inning with a single to left center field, then reached third when Pope laid down a sacrifice bunt that induced a throwing error by the third baseman to put runners on the corners. Watts then touched home as Pope was thrown out at second base on a
Zane Nolan fielder's choice. Nolan stole second, then third on
Owen Shaw's at-bat, and Shaw obliged him with an RBI single to left field.
Ian Guthrie scored the third run of the inning from second base when
Drake Job induced a two-out throwing error by the shortstop to keep the inning alive.
Hendrix added three more runs in the fifth with the help of another Ozarks' fielding error and a couple RBI singles from Shaw and Nolan. The game went scoreless from there on out as the Warriors breezed to another midweek win over their in-state foes.
Braxton Waller (W, 3-3) was the pitcher of record after getting the start on a declared staff day. The junior struck out two and allowed just one run on one hit in his 2.0 innings on the mound.
Hogan Ralston and
Tucker Isbell combined for five strikeouts while surrendering just one hit apiece over the final four innings that they split.
Hendrix (14-18, 5-7 SAA) now hits the road to return to Georgia for their penultimate conference series as they take on Oglethorpe in Atlanta. They will play a doubleheader on Friday and end the series on Saturday.
