ARKADELPHIA- On an afternoon, hours before April Fools Day, it was no laughing matter for Ouachita Baptist, as the Lady Tigers swept Missouri S&T, 6-1 in Game 1, followed by an 8-0 win in five innings in a non-conference double header at Sully Anderson Field in Arkadelphia on Wednesday.
Ouachita (28-14, 7-9 GSC West) smashed five home runs and allowed just one run in 13 innings against Missouri S&T (17-13). Ouachita senior Haley Chambers continued a stellar season at the plate, hitting three home runs in two games, moving her season total to 13 in 2010. Junior Sara Hanson and freshman Kayci Wilson limited Missouri S&T at the plate, allowing one run on nine hits combined on the mound, as sophomore Alexis Johns recorded her first two saves of the season.
In Game 1, the Lady Tigers wasted no time in recording four runs in the first inning, as junior Kristen Rigsbee recorded an RBI single, scoring freshman Megan Askew for an early 1-0 lead. Senior Haley Chambers then cleared the bases with a three-run home run to give Ouachita a 4-0 lead after one inning of play.
Ouachita would answer back with two runs in the bottom of the third when junior Sarah Bell led off the inning with a double to centerfield, scoring on a two-run home run by Rigsbee (10) to give the Lady Tigers a 6-0 lead.
Missouri S&T recorded their lone run in the fourth, as Ouachita Baptist allowed just two hits in the final three innings.
Ouachita freshman Kayci Wilson (8-7) went six innings, while allowing one run on six hits and striking out five for the victory. Sophomore Alexis Johns (1) recorded her first save of the season in going one inning without allowing a hit. Missouri S&T’s Ashley Wallingford (8-5) took the loss on the mound, going four innings and allowing six earned runs on five hits.
At the plate for the Lady Tigers, Rigsbee finished 3-for-3 with 3 RBI, while Chambers added a 1-for-3 performance with 3 RBI. Bell and Wilson combined for the only other hits for Ouachita.
In Game 2, it was more of the same thing, as Ouachita Baptist powered their way to an 8-0 victory in five innings. The Lady Tigers scored six runs in the first innings, including three in the opener. A single from freshman Megan Askew led off the first inning, followed by a single from junior Sarah Bell. Ouachita senior Haley Chambers then provided her second home run of the day, a three-run shot, giving the Lady Tigers a 3-0 lead.
In the bottom of the second inning, sophomore Jana Deen doubled to center field, scoring freshman Bailey Sanders for a 4-0 Ouachita lead. One batter later, Bell homered for a two-run shot to end the second with a 6-0 lead.
Chambers recorded her third home run of the day with a solo shot in the third, ending the inning with a 7-0 lead. The final run of the game came on a groundout RBI from Rigsbee, scoring Askew to set the final score at 8-0.
On the mound for Ouachita, junior Sara Hanson (5-3) went four innings for the victory, allowing no earned runs on three hits. Sophomore Alexis Johns (2) earned the save with a scoreless inning of relief. Taylor Keal (9-7) recorded the loss for Missouri S&T.
Bell led the way for Ouachita Baptist at the plate, going 3-for-3 with 2 RBI and two runs scored, while Chambers added a 2-for-2 performance with 4 RBI, including a pair of home runs in the victory. Teammates Megan Askew, Jana Deen and freshman Kayci Wilson also recorded a hit for the Lady Tigers.
Ouachita Baptist travels to Magnolia on Thursday to face Gulf South Conference opponent Southern Arkansas in a doubleheader beginning at 5 p.m.
