ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – Davis Ward threw his seventh complete game of the season in the Ouachita Tigers' 5-2 win over their rival, the Henderson State Reddies, on Friday.

"Davis has been the guy all year for us," head coach Jeremy Haworth said. "He is a good arm, he is going to compete, and he has given us complete game after complete game."

Ward, who surpassed 100 innings pitched on the season, gave up just two runs on nine hits and struck out four batters. Henderson's two runs came in the sixth and eighth innings, both off of sacrifice flies. 

Ouachita's offense took control of the game early, as the Tigers scored two runs in the top of the first inning. The inning was highlighted by two-out doubles from Chris Tavares and Jace Melby. Later, in the top of the third, Matt Sinclair picked up an RBI to give the Tigers a 3-0 lead. The Tigers added two more in the seventh from an RBI-single by Tyler Faught and an RBI-double by Justin Weigel.

"There was two times in the ballgame where we scored two runs with two outs," said Haworth. "But also, where we lacked was, we had runners in scoring position almost every inning except for the last two and could not score those guys."

Melby, Sinclair and Faught all led the Tigers with two hits, and Melby led all players with two runs batted in. Parker Norris added two stolen bases to give him a GAC-leading 35 on the season. 

The Tigers (22-26, 14-14 GAC) are currently sitting in sixth place in the Great American Conference, a half-game ahead of East Central University. With at least one win over the next two games against Henderson State on Saturday, the Tigers will clinch the final spot in the GAC Tournament. 

"This is it for us," said Haworth. "I want to get to the tournament. I think these guys do, too, and I think we are going to do whatever it takes to get there."

The Tigers will take on the Reddies (17-29, 11-17 GAC) in the final two games of the regular season on Saturday, beginning at 1 p.m.