AUSTIN, Texas - Ouachita Tiger Baseball claimed its first win of the season on Saturday, defeating the St. Edwards Hilltoppers 1-0 in seven innings. 

Davis Ward, 2013's GAC Pitcher of the Year, got the start for the Tigers. The Hilltoppers started their ace, as well, in Brannon Easterling, 2013's Division II Most Valuable Player. Both pitchers held a shutout through five innings, allowing only two hits between them.

In the top of the sixth inning with two outs, Parker Norris earned a walk for the Tigers. Norris then stole second to put himself in scoring position. Still without a hit in the game, the Tigers sent Landon Moore to the plate, who delivered with a single up the middle that scored Norris. 

Holding a one-run lead with an inning and a half to play, Head Coach Jeremy Haworth chose to keep Ward in the game. The decision proved to be the right one, as Ward allowed only one hit in the last two half innings for St. Edwards, and the Tigers closed out the game ahead 1-0.

Ward earned his first win of the season and a complete-game shutout in which he allowed only three hits and struck out five Hilltoppers. Easterling was given the loss for St. Edwards. Moore's RBI single ended up being the difference in the tightly contested matchup. 

The Tigers (1-0) will stay in Austin for a doubleheader on Feb. 2 starting at 12:00 p.m. Ouachita will then be home on Friday, Feb. 7, at 2:00 p.m. for their first home game of the season against Central Missouri.