ELLINGTON-- Spencer Burnham hit his fifth home run in as many games and did not allow a hit through 5 2/3 innings to lead the Van Buren baseball team in a 6-3 win over Ellington on Thursday.
Burnham's two-run shot in the top of the seventh inning gave the Bulldogs (9-2) all the runs they needed. He also drew a walk and finished 1 for 3 at the plate.
Ethan Ponder was 2 for 4 with two RBIs and a run scored while Justin Chilton and Jacob O'Dell added a hit apiece. O'Dell had two RBIs and drove in Ponder with a double in the sixth to put the Bulldogs up for good.
Burnham struck out 11, walked three and only gave up an unearned run to earn the win. The Van Buren senior has recorded 27 strikeouts in the last 11 1/3 innings without allowing a hit. Todd Wilcoxen struck out four in 1 1/3 innings of relief.
Twin Rivers 4, Clearwater 0
Zac Hardin tossed a one-hitter while Jack LeGrand and Tanner Ledbetter provided the offense as the Royals handed the visiting Tigers an Ozark Foothills Conference loss.
Hardin struck out four in the complete-game shutout. LeGrand was 3 for 3 with a double and two RBIs and Ledbetter drove in one with a single for Twin Rivers (6-2, 3-2 OFC).
Stephen Martino had the only hit for Clearwater (6-6, 1-3).
East Carter 6, Neelyville 2
Corby Seib blasted a double and batted in two runs as the Redbirds picked up a conference road victory.
Seib also tossed a complete game, giving up two runs on eight hits with seven strikeouts. His batterymate, Dalton Rudd, had two hits and an RBI while Jake Andrews, Jordan Douglas, Cody Hampton and Alex Kearbey each had a hit for East Carter (9-3,3-1 OFC).
Tyler Lowe provided the offense for Neelyville (5-11, 1-1) with a two-run home run in the first inning.
Naylor 26, Clarkton 4
Evan Bergeron belted two doubles and batted in two runs as the Eagles picked up a victory over the Reindeer in the four-inning romp at home.
Jordan Cook was 3 for 3 with RBIs. He also walked three times and scored twice. Chance Smith added two hits and an RBI while Seth Jones, Chase Sarabia, Brandon Cook and Jake Ward each had a hit and an RBI for the Eagles (5-4).
SOFTBALL
Greenville 16, Doniphan 4
In a preview of the OFC Tournament, the Lady Bears blasted their first-round opponents in five innings.
Tristin Porter was 3 for 4 with a double and three RBIs, Emilie O'Dell and McKenzie Miller were each 2 for 4 with a double and Beth Bangert added two more hits and an RBI for Greenville (6-4, 2-0 OFC).
Siera Bennett and Lawren Luke each had a double while Jaden Francis had a single.
O'Dell pitched all 5 innings, striking out six.
Clearwater 7, Twin Rivers 0
Brittany Adams smacked a double and drove in two runs as the Lady Tigers earned a road conference win.
Amy Holmes had two hits and scored twice for Clearwater (9-5, 3-1 OFC).
Halle Gooch struck out six and allowed five total baserunners to get her fourth shutout of the season. She struck out six in the win.
Dexter 5, Advance 2
Kaylee Carey drove in three runs for the Lady Bearcats. Kelsey Carrier allowed five hits and no walks with two strikeouts to get her first win of the season.