ARKADELPHIA- Ouachita Baptist answered back with a 10-1 victory over Henderson State to win Game 2 at Clyde Berry Field in Arkadelphia on Saturday.
Ouachita (17-14, 3-4 GSC West) opened the second inning of play with a five-run inning, followed by a single run in the fourth and four runs in the sixth inning.
Junior starter Kolby Moore went the distance, pitching seven innings and allowing just one earned run on six hits. Junior Kyle Zimmerman and freshman Landon Flax each finished 1-for-3 with 3 RBI, while junior teammate went 3-for-4 with three runs score and an RBI.
Kevin White (1-2) lasted five innings and allowed nine earned runs on 10 hits for Henderson State. Evan Eary finished 2-for-2 for the Reddies at the plate.
The Tigers return for Game 3 in the rubber match at Clyde Berry Field in Arkadelphia at 1 p.m.
-By Alan Greenwood, OBU Sports Information Director
Tigers lose 13-inning battle with Henderson State in Game 1
March 27, 2010
ARKADELPHIA- It took 13 innings to decide the winner, and even then it came down to the wire, as Henderson State defeated Ouachita Baptist, 9-8, in a 13-inning back and forth duel, finally decided on a 2-out, 2-run rally in the bottom of the 13th inning at Clyde Berry Field on the campus of Henderson State in Arkadelphia on Saturday.
Ouachita (16-14, 2-4 GSC West) led 8-7 with two outs in the bottom of the 13th, before a two-out error by the Tigers allowed Henderson State (15-10, 2-4 GSC West) to come back for the victory. There were four lead changes in all, including single runs in the 9th, 10th, 12th and 13th innings for the Tigers. Both teams combined for 27 hits overall.
Ouachita senior Luke Hardcastle scored the first run of the game in the second, as freshman Landon Flax drew an RBI walk, giving Ouachita a 1-0 lead. Henderson State answered back with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second to take the lead at 2-1.
The Reddies scored again in the third, as Charles Hillman connected on an RBI single to stretch the lead to 3-1.
In the top of the fourth, Ouachita Baptist freshman Landon Flax recorded a two-run single to right field, scoring juniors Steve Mirizzi and Kyle Zimmerman to tie the game at 3-3. Henderson State came back to add solo runs in the bottom of the fourth and fifth innings, taking the lead at 5-3.
Senior All-American Will Gowdy slammed his seventh home run of the season with a solo blast to left field to cut the deficit to 5-4. With two outs on the board in the top of the ninth, sophomore Brock Green extended the contest with an RBI single, scoring Flax to tie the game at 5-5.
After holding Henderson State scoreless in the bottom half of the ninth, the Tigers answered with a solo home run from Zimmerman, his first of the season to give Ouachita a 6-5 lead. A double from Henderson’s Lee Harris, followed by an RBI single from Kendall Norman extended play again in the 10th, as the game was tied again at 6-6.
Both teams went scoreless in the 11th, but in the 12th inning, the action intensified as Ouachita recorded an RBI single from Flax that scored junior Sam McGill, after McGill led off the inning with a double to give the Tigers a 7-6 lead. Henderson State answered with an RBI single from Norman, scoring Ryan Ellis to tie the game at 7-7. Ouachita Baptist’s Steve Mirizzi saved the game with a putout from centerfield to catcher Luke Hardcastle, tagging Henderson State’s Robert Gilbert at home for the second out of the inning. The 12th inning ended a batter later on a fly out to left field.
In the 13th, Gowdy (8) homered for the second time in the game, giving Ouachita an 8-7 lead, while teammate Luke Hardcastle was left on second after recorded a double two batters later.
Henderson State looked to be down and out, after the Tigers recorded two outs with the bases loaded. The game would however end in the Reddies favor, as two runners would come end to score on a two-run error by Green, giving the Reddies a victory in Game 1, 9-8.
Ouachita junior Sam McGill went seven innings on the mound in relief of starter Will Gowdy, giving up just one earned run on four hits, allowing Ouachita to mount a comeback that would be just short. Reliever Zac Treece (5-3) took the loss, going 2/3 innings in allowing two runs, both unearned.
Henderson State’s Evan Eary (1-0) took the victory for the Reddies, going four inning on relief, allowing three earned runs on seven hits.
Gowdy finished 3-f0r-6 at the plate for Ouachita, recording a pair of solo home runs, while Flax finished at 3-for-5 with 3 RBI and a run scored. Zimmerman added a 2-for-4 performance with 2 RBI and two runs scored. Harris finished at 4-for-7 for Henderson State, while Norman and Hillman each added 2 RBI each.
Ouachita Baptist returns to take on Henderson State in Game 2, immediately following Game 1. The Tigers will begin action of Game 3 at noon on Sunday at Clyde Berry Field in Arkadelphia.
