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Matt Jackson blasted a home run and 2 doubles to lead the Ozark Tigers to an 11-1 Central Ozark Conference baseball victory at Marshfield High School on Monday, April 7.
Matt Jackson drove in 5 runs and scored twice as Ozark improved to 5-3 overall and 3-0 in the league. Marshfield fell to 3-3 overall and 0-2 in COC action this season.
Matt Jordan was the winning pitcher for Ozark, working the first 4 innings with 6 strike outs, allowing just 1 hit. Ryne Armstrong struck out the side in the fifth for the Tigers, and Ethan Mather followed suit in the 7th, striking out 3.
Ozark jumped on top 5-0 in the first. Second baseman Brett Neill led off with a double. With one out, Derek Harwell singled to drive in the first run. With 2 outs, John Neill singled to drive in another run. Chris Loveday followed with a single for the Tigers, setting the table for Matt Jackson.
Matt Jackson smashed a 3-run homer to the scoreboard in left center field, beyond the 357 foot sign, putting Ozark on top 5-0.
Matt Jordan walked a batter in the second, and gave up a double to Marshfield designated hitting Chris Bigley in the third, but ended each of those frames with a strike out.
In the top of the fourth, Ozark broke the game open with 4 more runs, sending 10 batters to the plate. Matt Jackson led off the inning with a double. Corey Wiley followed with a single. Brett Neill drove in a run with a sacrifice fly. With 2 outs, Levi Presley reached safely. Derek Harwell then delivered his 3rd hit of the game, and his second double, driving in a run. Ethan Mather followed with a 2-run single, putting Ozark on top 9-0.
In the last of the 4th, Matt Jordan issued 3 walks, but got another inning ending strike out to escape the jam. He got help from left fielder Justin Johnson, who made a fine running catch on a drive by Marshfield’s Nathan VanDiggelen in that inning.
In the sixth, Ozark scored twice to build a double digit lead. John Neill drew a leadoff walk and Chris Loveday singled to set the table for Matt Jackson again.
Matt Jackson delivered a 2-run double, giving Ozark the opportunity to end the game because of the 10-run rule.
After Ethan Mather struck out the first 2 batters in the last of the sixth, Marshfield catcher Chris Arnold blasted a solo home run to left field. Garrett Cardwell was hit by a pitch before Ethan Mather ended the game with a strike out. Garrett Cardwell also walked, reaching safely in 2 of 3 trips to the plate for Marshfield.
For Ozark, Tim Wagaman went 2-for-2, Corey Wiley singled twice, stole a base and scored for the Tigers, Chris Loveday finished with 2 singles, a walk and scored twice, John Neill singled twice, walked and drove in a run, Derek Harwell had 3 hits, 2 which were doubles, with 2 RBI and 2 runs scored, Ethan Mather singled and drove in 2 runs, Levi Presley reached safely twice and scored and Brett Neill double, scored and drove in a run.
Tim Ryan was the starting pitcher for Marshfield, working 3 and 2/3 innings with 2 strike outs. Justin Drane worked the final 2 and 1/3 innings with a strike out.
Ozark will return home to play host to Reeds Spring Tuesday, April 8. Marshfield will travel to Republic on Tuesday, April 8.
Ozark will play at the Red & Blue Tournament in Springfield on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Thursday, the Tigers will play Carthage at Parkview at 6:45 p.m. Friday at Parkview, Ozark will play Blue Springs at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Ozark will play Parkview at Parkview at 9 a.m.
Saturday afternoon, the Tigers will play again, according to how the pool play works out. The third place game is set for 1:30 p.m. and the championship game for 3 p.m.
Marshfield will play host to Buffalo on Thursday at 4:30 p.m. The Blue Jays will go to Ava on Friday for a non-conference contest, also at 4:30 p.m.
