The Ouachita Tigers and the St. Edwards Hilltoppers split wins in a doubleheader on Monday, giving the Tigers a 2-1 win in the series played this past weekend.
“I thought it was a great team win,” catcher Matt Sinclair said. “We didn’t quite and I feel like we really wanted it. It was a great way to start the season.”
In the first game on Monday, the Tigers lost to the Hilltoppers 5-4.
In the bottom of the fourth, Kevin Mayo scored on a single by Nate Turner through the right side. The Hilltoppers added two more in the next inning when J.D. Arrowood singled up the middle and drove in Gable Whitacre. Wesley Harris would reach on a fielder’s choice on the next play, scoring Arrowood.
The Tigers scored a run in the sixth when Drew Feuerbacher scored on a single from Reuben Miller.
The Hilltoppers added two more runs in the seventh inning, when Arrowood scored again on a sacrifice fly ball from Harris and Mayo scored from a Dylan Watts single.
Down 5-1 in the bottom of the ninth, Preston Speers doubled down the line, scoring Reuben Miller from second base. Following that play, Justin Weigle doubled down the line as well, scoring Jakahari Howell, who pinch ran for Speers, and Tyler Faught.
Trip Cecil, who pitched for the Tigers, gave up three runs through six innings and Josh Reeves, who came in as relief, allowed two runs in three innings pitched.
In the second game, Connor Reed struck out the first three batters, then in the bottom of the inning, Jace Melby hit a homerun that scored Feuerbacher giving the Tigers a 2-0 lead.
The Hilltoppers fought back, scoring runs off of sac flies in the second and third innings.
Lance Cullum came in in the top of the seventh inning as relief for Connor Reed, who had six strikeouts through six innings. Cullum finished the game with two strikeouts in three innings pitched.
Both teams failed to score again in the scheduled seven innings of play. With the score tied at two, the teams began extra innings.
In the ninth inning, Speers got to first on a throwing error (Chandler Blake pinched ran for him) and Weigle bunted a single. Parker Norris reached first on the next play with a fielder’s choice that didn’t get to the base in time.
Jace Melby came to the plate and bunted. The throw to the catcher was dropped, as Blake reached home to give the Tigers a 3-2 win.
Along with the two wins this weekend, Lance Cullum was named as the GAC Pitcher of the Week. Cullum gave up only two hits on the weekend and struck out four batters. He is a transfer from New Mexico Community College.
With the win, the Tigers start the season with a 2-1 record. The Tigers play Texas A&M-Kingsville at 1 p.m. today in the Quicktrip Division II Classic Tournament.
