The Ouachita Baptist University softball team had its home-opener Tuesday afternoon as the Lady Tigers split a pair of games against Central Baptist, winning the first game, 4-2, but dropping the second, 2-1, at Sully Anderson Field.
Central Baptist (5-5) struck first with a pair of runs in the top of the first in the opener.
Chelsey Hust walked and scored on a double to left-center by Tia Houston. Shannon Pickard reached on an infield single and Hailey King singled up the middle to load the bases. Brandi McChristian plated Houston with a sacrifice fly to right to give the Lady Mustangs a 2-0 lead.
Ouachita (10-6) scored four runs on five hits in the bottom of the third to take a 4-2 lead.
Jana Deen, who went 1-for-3, and Kristen Rigsbee, who was 2-for-3, reached on back-to-back infield hits with one out in the frame. Haley Chambers, who went 2-for-4, followed with a base hit to load the bases. Aspen Grams, who was 2-for-2, plated Deen with a single to right and Rigsbee scored on a sacrifice bunt by Sarah Bell, who was 1-for-2, to tie the game at 2. Korrie Cook, who was 1-for-2, doubled to right center to clear the bases as Chambers and Grams scored.
Rigsbee (5-1) pitched a complete game. She surrendered a pair of runs on five hits with a walk and 10 strikeouts.
Dake Schylar took the loss by giving up four runs on 11 hits with a walk and a pair of strikeouts.
In the second game, the Lady Tigers broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the third by taking advantage of a Lady Mustangs error.
With two outs, Davis singled up the middle and stole second. Deen struck out, but advanced on an error by the catcher, which allowed Davis to score from second.
Central Baptist tied the game at 1 with a solo homer by Shannon Pickard with two outs in the top of the fifth.
Chelsey Hust reached on a one-out base hit to right center in the inning. Pickard followed and reached on a fielder’s choice as the Lady Tigers tried to get Hust at second. Kayla Hawkins’ infield hit allowed Hust to score to give the Lady Mustangs a 2-1 lead.
Crystal Robinson started for Ouachita, going four innings. She scattered five hits with five strikeouts. Taylor Austin surrendered a run on three hits with a strikeout in two innings of relief. Johns (0-1) gave up a run (unearned) on two hits in an inning of relief to take the loss.
Claire Collom picked up the win by pitching a complete game. She gave up a run (unearned) on five hits with a walk and six strikeouts.
Ouachita returns to action 12:00 p.m., Friday, Feb. 27 at the Arkansas-Monticello Classic against West Georgia. The Lady Tigers conclude the day 2:00 p.m., against North Alabama.
