CLARKSVILLE, Arkansas – Coming back from three runs down early in the nine-inning game, East Baptist University took the first of a three-game American Southwest Conference series from the University of the Ozarks, 10-8. ETBU starts the ASC season off 1-0 and improves to 8-2 overall.

Four players had two RBIs as Zach Compton and Kameron Sumrall each had two hits. Dylan Sumpter and Brice Winter added two RBIs on a hit a piece. Tyler Bates and Conner Combs would also have two hits with Bates scoring three runs as well. On the mound, Ernest Perez got the start and would pick up the win by pitching five innings allowing 10 hits and eight runs. Chad Boudreaux would get the save by pitching four shutout innings allowing two hits.

ETBU struck first in the opening inning as Compton hit an RB double to make it 1-0. Ozarks would then pile up four runs in the bottom of the second to make it 4-1. In the top of the third, ETBU would chip at the lead on an RBI single by Sumrall, which was then followed by a sacrifice fly by Combs to make it 4-3. But the Eagles answered with two in the bottom half of the inning to make it 6-3.

In the fourth, Dylan Sumpter hit a two run shot to right field that cut the lead to one, 6-5, which Ozarks would answer with a run in the bottom of the inning to have 7-5 lead. In the fifth, Brice Winter delivered a two-run single to tie the game at 7. The sixth inning saw ETBU retake the lead with two runs when Bates scored on a wild pitch. Sumrall would then follow with an RBI double scoring Compton from second. Ozarks would answer in the bottom of the sixth with one to come within one run of ETBU, 9-8, after six innings. Compton would have another RBI double to add another insurance run making it 10-8. Ozarks would be held down as ETBU walked away with the win.

ETBU plays a double header on Saturday starting at 12:00 pm with a seven-inning game and then the nine-inning game.