Ozark got another good pitching performance from starter Ryne Armstrong, defeating visiting Nixa High School 8-4 in Central Ozark Conference baseball action on Tuesday, April 15, at Ozark.

The Tigers improved to 10-4 overall and moved another step closer to a COC title with a fifth consecutive league. Armstrong picked up his second win of the season.

Rogersville lost on Thursday, and Ozark now sits alone atop the COC standings The Tigers are defending COC champions

Ozark used a big third inning to jump on top of Nixa. Matt Jordan got the rally going with a single and scored the first run of the game on a hit by Brett Neill. Levis Presley singled and Derek Harwell walked to load the bases. John Neill drove in a run with a sacrifice fly. Chris Loveday singled to drive in a run during the rally, and stole a base. Corey Wiley walked and Drew Cain, in his first varsity start, walked to drive in a run. Matt Jordan’s second hit of the inning drove in a run which put Ozark in front 5-0.

Nixa finally broke through against Ryne Armstrong in the fifth inning when Emillio Villaneuva singled to drive in Joe Drum.

But Ozark answered with 2 runs in the last of the fifth, extending the lead to 7-1. Ethan Mather walked and Chris Loveday singled, the Corey Wiley got an RBI with a grounder. Matt Jordan reached safely, and Loveday scored in the fifth.

Armstrong worked 5 and a third innings to earn the win for Ozark. Brett Kesterson worked the final inning a two thirds to earn the save.

Nixa scored 3 runs in the sixth with hits by Brad Allen and Andy Davis setting the table for a 2-run hit b y D. J. Jost. When Jost later scored on a ground out, Nixa had cut the lead to 7-4.

But Ozark answered again in the last half of the inning. John Neill and Ethan Mather smashed back-to-back doubles to account for the final run, a uick two out rally.

Ozark will travel to Willard Thursday, April 17, for another COC contest.

The Tigers then go to Lawrence, Kansas, on Friday and Saturday, April 17 and 18, for a pair of games against Kansas opponents which can be heard right here at 65721.info

Friday at 3 p.m. the Tigers will play Shawnee Mission South. Ozark will play Olathe East on Saturday at 9 a.m.

Ozark also won the JV contest on Tuesday, beating the Nixa JV 8-0, behind an eye-popping pitching performance by Jayden Swain. Jayden Swain recorded a strike out when recording 17 of 21 outs, throwing a 7-inning no-hitter. At one point, Swain struck out 10 in a row. Swain allowed a walk and another Nixa batter reached on an error, so he faced 23 batters in the game, striking out 17.

The young Tigers will be back in action Wednesday, April 16, with JV and freshman games at Hillcrest at 4:30 p.m.