ABILENE, Texas – Ozarks knocked off St. Thomas, 6-4, in Sunday’s elimination game to move within one win of advancing to the SCAC Softball Tournament Championship series at Edwards Field on the campus of McMurry University. Official Website | Bracket | Photo Gallery
Trailing 4-3 going into the seventh inning, the Eagles scored three runs in the top of the frame and held on for a 6-4 victory. Isabella Hulsey finished with five RBI, tied for the second most in a single SCAC Tournament contest in league history.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Ozarks took a 1-0 lead on an RBI single off the bat of Isabella Hulsey to score Kamryn Uher in the top of the first.
- St. Thomas responded in the home half after a double off the bat of Ana Zozaya scored Rebecca Archibald to tie up the contest 1-1 after one.
- The Celts took a 3-1 lead after two, Maegan Anderson and Gigi Rivera collected RBI to score Olivia Sanchez and Viviana Vargas.
- In a true back and forth affair, Ozarks tied the game at three in the top of the third as Hulsey smashed a two-run home run.
- The Celts took momentum right back taking a 4-3 lead as Olivia Sanchez singled to left center to score Avery Pinz.
- UST stranded five runners on base in the fifth and sixth inning to give the Eagles a fighting chance going into the seventh inning.
- In the seventh, Ozarks quickly loaded the bases, before St. Thomas retired back-to-back outs pulling with in one final out of advancing. The Eagles tied the game on an error and then took the lead as Hulsey recorded her fourth and fifth RBI of the game.
- Winning pitcher Bailee Cowell closed out the game with her fourth complete game of the weekend.
UNIVERSITY OF THE OZARKS STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
- Isabella Hulsey: 3-4, 5 RBI, 1 run, 1 HR
- Kamryn Uher: 1-4, 1 run, 1 double
- Emma Reynolds: 1-4: 1 run, 1 RBI
- Bailee Cowell: 7.0 IP, 3 ER, 3 Ks, 1 BB, 120 TP, WP
UNIVERSITY OF ST. THOMAS STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
- Rebecca Archibald: 3-4, 1 run
- Ana Zozaya: 3-4, 1 RBI, 1 double
- Olivia Sanchez: 2-3, 1 run, 1 RBI
- Victoria Sossaman: 6.2 IP, 7 hits allowed, 3 ER, 5 Ks
NOTABLES
- Hulsey’s five RBI are tied for the second most in a single game in SCAC Tournament history. She is the first to record five RBI in a game since TLU’s Kayla Lockley accomplished the feat in 2018.
- The Eagles starter Bailee Cowell, who has pitched every inning this tournament is currently tied for the fifth most innings pitched in a single tournament (27.0) and her three wins are tied for the third most in a single SCAC tournament.
- Ozarks improves to 24-20 on the year, while St. Thomas drops to 30-10 overall.
UP NEXT
Ozarks advances to the elimination bracket final where it will meet Concordia today at 8:00 p.m. Trinity is eliminated.
