Baseball Recap: Ozark Has No Trouble Against Branson

Tigers

Margin (Wins)

03/29/25 @ West Plains	19
03/29/25 vs West Plains	19
04/08/25 @ Parkview	15
05/01/25 vs Central	12
05/02/25 @ Branson	10

Ozark barely beat Branson the last time the pair played, but that sure wasn't the case this time around. The Tigers blew past the Pirates 11-1 on Friday. The result was nothing new for the Tigers, who have now won eight matchups by six runs or more so far this season.

Ozark got a great performance from Brock Benson as he pitched five innings while giving up just one earned run off five hits. Benson has been nothing but reliable on the mound: he hasn't tossed less than five strikeouts in three consecutive appearances.

At the plate, Gannon Miller was a standout: he got on base in three of his four plate appearances with one home run and two RBI. That home run marked the first that he has launched this season. The team also got some help courtesy of Marcus Heavin, who went 2-for-3 with two RBI and one run.

Ozark was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .391. That was just more of the same: they've now posted a batting average of .321 or higher in three consecutive contests.

Ozark's victory ended a three-game drought on the road and puts them at 17-7. As for Branson, they have traveled a rocky road recently, having lost seven of their last eight games. That's put a noticeable dent in their 5-11 record this season.

Coincidentally, Ozark and Branson will both be playing Webb City the next time they take the field. The Pirates will host the Cardinals at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, while the Tigers will head out to face them at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday.