CONWAY, Ark. – The Hendrix College baseball team put up six runs in both the third and eighth innings en route to a 13-7 victory over the University of the Ozarks on Tuesday night. With the win, the Warriors (19-11) remain perfect at home with a 12-0 record on the year and take the season series from the Eagles (8-19) 3-1.
Senior second baseman Clark Sims walked to start the bottom of the first. He then stole second, giving him the Hendrix career record with 67 stolen bases. After a Mark Vlaskamp base hit, Sims scored from third on a double play ball, giving the Warriors a 1-0 lead. Ozarks left fielder Jonathan Cox led the top of the third off with a single and later scored on a RBI-ground out by second baseman Nick Brill.
The Warriors exploded for six runs in the bottom of the third on four hits, a walk and two hit batters against Eagle starter Freddy Prince. With one out, Sims was hit by a pitch and Vlaskamp singled, moving Sims to third. Sophomore left fielder Collin Radack doubled in Sims and freshman shortstop Ryan Ritz singled in Vlaskamp. Freshman catcher Seth Mobley was also plunked to load the bases. Senior right fielder Nathan Harr drew a walk, plating Radack and freshman Matt Simmons grounded out to score Ritz. Senior third baseman Kyle Raskin followed with a two-run single, giving the Warriors a 7-1 lead.
The Eagles began to chip away the deficit with three runs in the fifth. Shortstop Mitchell Powers hit a two-run double and designated hitter Michael Prusator had a sacrifice fly that scored Powers in the frame. The Ozarks made the game 7-6 in the top of the sixth on a pair of RBI ground balls by Cox and Chris Driedric.
The Warriors put the game out of reach in the eighth with six more runs. Simmons led off with a triple and Raskin drew a walk. Senior center fielder Aaron Bowne knocked in Simmons with a base hit and Sims cleared the bases with a double to left field. After a fielder's choice that saw Sims get put out a third, Radack reached on an error. Ritz hit followed with a three-run, inside-the-park home run that got past Cox in left field, giving Hendrix a 13-6 lead. The home run was the second that stayed in the park for the Warriors this season.
The Eagles added a final run in the top of the ninth when Powers hit a leadoff double and scored on ground ball by first baseman Tony Morales.
Ritz went 2-for-5 with two runs scored and four drive in for the Warriors. Sims recorded two hits, two runs scored and two RBI and Vlaskamp added a pair of runs and two hits. Powers went 3-for-4 and Cox had two hits for the Eagles.
Senior Matt Diehl (4-2) earned the win, allowing eight hits, six runs and four walks over six innings. Freshman Grant Nunn walked one in two scoreless innings and junior Tyler Keever allowed two hits and a run in the ninth. Prince (0-5) suffered the loss, giving up six hits, seven runs, five walks and three hit batters over five innings.
Hendrix will travel to St. Louis for a three-game series at Washington University beginning Friday.