Box Score
ARKADELPHIA, Ark.- Although Tuesday afternoon's game between the Ouachita Tigers and Harding Bisons was a non-conference match-up, the game still had all the makings of a great one. The teams entered the ninth inning deadlocked at six runs each, before a bases loaded situation ended in a run scoring on a passed ball for the Tigers, as they took a 7-6 win.
 
The Tigers (6-5-1) handed the Bisons (5-1) their first loss of the season, but it wasn't pretty.
 
Ouachita fell behind in the first inning, as a balk scored the Harding runner from third. The Tigers were unable to answer in the bottom of the inning, and Harding added to their lead in the second inning, with a sacrifice fly that scored an unearned run.
 
In the bottom of the second, the Tigers cut the Bison lead in half, when Tyler Faught singled to right field, scoring Landon Moore and making the score 2-1.
 
The fourth inning changed the game though, as Harding posted a three spot on the scoreboard with two more scores due to balks and a RBI single to left field, making the score 5-1 in favor of Harding. Ouachita came out in the bottom half of the frame and notched a run, as Will Wallace scored on a groundout from McCrae Jones.
 
The Tigers notched another run in the fifth, but the Bisons scored another in the top of the seventh, making the score 6-3 and putting the Tigers in a tough spot. Ouachita answered fittingly though, with three runs in the bottom of the seventh coming on a sacrifice fly, a runner advancing home on a fielder's choice and a bomb from Keegan Ghidotti that sailed over the left field fence.
 
Neither team scored in the eighth, and the Tigers recorded three straight outs in the top of the ninth, giving themselves a chance for a walk-off victory.
 
Ghiddoti kicked off the bottom of the ninth with a single to left field and advanced himself to third with a stolen base and a passed ball. Harding then elected to walk the next two Tiger batters, loading the bases with no outs. Moore took a huge hack at a ball, and barely missed, striking out, but what happened next sealed the game.
 
With just one out and the bases loaded, Harding pitcher Nick Ford threw a ball right between the legs of his catcher, allowing Ghidotti to score from third and seal the win.
 
Ben Gielow recorded the win on the mound, coming in as relief for starter Luis De Jesus. Gielow threw four innings and recorded two strikeouts while not giving up any earned runs.
 
Ford took the loss, giving up a run and two walks in just .1 inning of work.
 
The Tigers jump back into conference play on Friday, when they host Southeastern Oklahoma for a weekend series. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
 
-Josh Fink, Sports Information Director