The Ouachita Tigers’ baseball team lost both games of a Sunday doubleheader against the Harding Bisons. The Tigers lost the first game 5-2 and the second by a score of 4-3.
Harding started the day strong, scoring three runs in the first inning of the first game. The Tigers started a comeback in the seventh inning, scoring two runs off of RBI’s from Ryan Hammer and Kord Offenbacker, but were not able to complete it as Harding scored one run in both the seventh and eighth innings. John Franklin Matros was the starting pitcher in the game, pitching into the eighth inning and striking out five batters.
The second game of the day began once again in the favor of the Bisons. Harding scored their first run in the first inning when a batter grounded into a double play, but was still able to score a run. However, Ouachita responded in the third inning to take a 3-1 lead. Kyle Alexander hit a two-run homerun to drive in two runs, and Ryan Hammer followed him with a one-run single to right field. The Tigers’ lead was relinquished, however, with Harding runs in the third, fifth and sixth innings respectively. Adam Bahoul pitched a complete game for the Tigers and struck out three batters.
The Tigers (5-18, 3-9 GAC) lost the final game of its series against the Harding Bison (6-14, 6-6 GAC) by a score of 11-8.
Ouachita started the game very strong by scoring four runs in the first inning. Kyle Alexander drove in the first run by singling to left field, and Preston Speers followed him with an RBI single to the right side. Aaron Studdard drove in the third run of the inning when he was walked, and Offenbacker drove in the final run of the inning on a fielder’s choice. The 4-0 was short lived for the Tigers, however, as Harding scored four runs in the bottom of the second inning.
Alexander picked up his second RBI of the game in the fourth inning to give the Tigers a 5-4 lead, but Harding scored four more runs in the fifth inning to relinquish the Tigers’ lead. A Justin Weigle home run drove in two runs in the seventh inning, but it was not enough to bring the Tigers the win.
Abe Young was the starting pitcher for the Tigers. Young pitched five innings and struck out two batters. Logan Huneycutt relieved Young in the sixth inning and struck out two batters as well.
The Ouachita Tigers’ softball team (10-14, 4-8 GAC) lost both games of doubleheader against Harding University (21-3, 11-1 GAC). The Tigers lost the first game by a score of 7-0 and the second by a final score of 11-0.
Harding’s pitcher, Autumn Humes, pitched a perfect game in the second game, and the game ended due to run rule in the fifth inning.
Kelly Powell and Sarah Johnson both had two hits in the first game. Kelsey O’Brien and Marissa Butler were the starting pitchers in games one and two.
Written by sports writer, Caleb Byrd
