CLARKSVILLE, Ark. - Westminster baseball fell twice Monday to University of the Ozarks, suffering a three-game sweep in the opening series of the season.
Westminster starts the season 0-3 with the loss.
The Blue Jays started out the day by completing Sunday night's competition that was suspended due to darkness in the top of the ninth.
After the Eagles pulled ahead 1-0 in the first inning, Westminster answered in the second with a sacrifice fly from Robert Shifrin to score Ryan Klimkiewicz. The Blue Jays then went ahead 3-1 on a two-run shot to right center field from Ryan Clavin, but a three-run fifth inning from the Eagles made the score 4-3 in favor of Ozarks after five innings.
Westminster again answered in the seventh with an RBI from Brandon Beeler, but the Eagles again responded with a four-run inning to go ahead 8-4.
The Blue Jays found their offensive stride in the eighth. After loading the bases and adding a run on an error, Zach Eisenreich added a run on a groundout to pull back within two runs. Zach Stiles and Ryan Clavin pieced together two more hits for two more runs, tying the game going into the bottom of the inning.
The Eagles added the last runs of the game in the eighth on a grand slam to make the eventual score, which went final Monday, 12-8.
Clavin led the way offensively, going 3-5 with three RBI, a homerun and a triple.
Skyler Dickneite started on the mound, pitching four innings and giving up just one run on six hits, striking out five. Mason Kirkweg took the eventual loss, pitching three innings and giving up seven runs.
In game two, Westminster was unable to produce offensively, getting shut out 10-0.
Alex Dickneite took the loss after pitching 2.2 innings, giving up five runs, three earned, on two hits.
Devin Masek produced two of the five hits for Westminster.
The Blue Jays return home to Saucier Field for the home-opening series March 2 and 3. The series also serves as the opening St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference games for Westminster as they face Eureka. First pitch is set for 12 p.m. Saturday with a doubleheader Sunday starting at 12 p.m.
