ARKADELPHIA- While Arkansas-Monticello made it interesting in the final innings, Ouachita Baptist held on for an 11-10 Gulf South Conference victory in Game 3 at Rab Rodgers Field in Arkadelphia on Saturday. The victory gave the Tigers a series sweep of the Boll Weevils after winning both games of the double header on Friday.
Ouachita (21-16, 6-5 GSC West) jumped out for a 9-2 lead after three innings of play, but Arkansas-Monticello (17-18, 3-8 GSC West) answered back with seven runs in the seventh and eighth innings to tie the game at 10-10 heading to the ninth inning. After putting two runners on base with no outs in the bottom of the ninth, Ouachita junior Justin Hall popped out on a bunt attempt, which doubled up senior teammate Drew Baker at second base to put two outs on the board with one runner on. With the score tied at 10-10, sophomore Brock Green drove in the game-winning run on a walk-off double to left center field, scoring pinch hitter freshman Landon Flax from first base.
After a leadoff home run from Arkansas Monticello’s Michael Diffie gave the Boll Weevils a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, Ouachita Baptist answered with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the inning. Green drove in an RBI single, scoring freshman Duncan Collins for the first run, followed by an RBI groundout from senior Luke Hardcastle to score senior Will Gowdy for a 2-1 lead for the Tigers.
In the second inning, Ouachita Baptist began the at-bat with three walks, loading the bases for a two-run single to right field for Collins, scoring junior Cass Via and junior Steve Mirizzi. Gowdy then followed with a two-run double to left, scoring teammates Collins and Baker to give Ouachita a 6-1 lead.
Diffie again led off the third with a solo home run to left field, but it would be all the scoring the Boll Weevils could manage in the third to cut the deficit to 6-2. Ouachita’s Via opened the bottom of the third with a single, scoring two batters later on a stolen base to third and throwing error by the catcher. Senior Drew Baker drove in junior Kyle Zimmerman with an RBI single to give the Tigers an 8-2 lead. A single by Collins and hit by pitch on Green loaded the bases for senior Luke Hardcastle, as Hardcastle recorded an RBI on a walk, giving the Tigers a 9-2 lead as Ouachita would leave three runners on base after lining out to left field. It would be a recurring theme for the Tigers, as Ouachita left 12 runners on bases throughout the matchup.
Arkansas-Monticello scored a single run in the sixth to cut the lead to 9-3, then exploded with four runs on five hits in the seventh inning to bring the score to 9-7. Ouachita answered with a run in the bottom half of the seventh on a sacrifice fly by Gowdy to score junior Steve Mirizzi to extend the lead to 10-7.
In the eighth inning, the game quickly got interesting after the Boll Weevils began the inning with a pair of singles to put runners on first and third with two outs. Arkansas Monticello’s Noah Sanders then answered with a three-run inside-the-park home run that began on a diving play by Gowdy in right field, injuring the All-American for Ouachita on the play. Sanders’ home run tied the game at 10-10 and sent action to the final at-bat for the Tigers as neither come would score in their next at-bat.
In the bottom of the ninth, Baker drew a walk for Ouachita, advancing to second after freshman pinch hitter Landon Flax also walked, as well. Ouachita junior Justin Hall then popped out to Arkansas Monticello’s Drew Harper at third, while Harper caught Baker on a double play at second when Baker went in motion on a sacrifice bunt attempt. The play gave Ouachita two outs with a runner on first for Green, who entered the at-bat with a 2-for-4 performance earlier in the game.
Green slammed a double to deep right center field that allowed Flax just enough time to round the bases for the game-winning run of the emotional Game 3 victory for Ouachita.
Ouachita sophomore Zac Treece (6-4) took the victory with one inning of relief pitching in the ninth, allowing just one hit. Arkansas Monticello’s Mason Reynolds (0-2) took the loss in going 1 2/3 innings and allowing one earned run on two hits.
At the plate for Ouachita, Green finished with a 3-for-5 performance with 2 RBI, while teammate Gowdy went 1-for-4 but recorded 3 RBI. Collins and Baker each finished with a pair of hits in 2-for-3 performances at the top of the lineup, as the duo combined for 3 RBI and four runs scored.
Ouachita Baptist returns to Rab Rodgers Field for a double header series against GSC East opponent West Alabama (19-14) beginning at 1 p.m.
