RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – The Ouachita Tigers baseball team will enter the 2015 season ranked sixth in the 2015 Great American Conference Baseball Preseason Coaches' Poll. The Tigers claimed 50 points, which tied with East Central University.
 
The Tigers finished the 2014 season with an overall record of 25-28 and a 16-14 record in conference. Ouachita clinched the final spot in the 2014 GAC Tournament after a three-game sweep at Henderson State University.
 
In the first game of the tournament, The Tigers defeated the top-seeded Arkansas Tech Wonderboys 6-3, after an eight-inning pitching performance by 2014 GAC Pitcher of the Year Davis Ward. Ouachita came up short in the next two games, however, falling to Southern Arkansas 15-10 and Arkansas at Monticello 12-6.
 
Five of the top seven leaders in batting average for the Tigers are returning for the 2015 season, including 2014 All-GAC First-Team selection Parker Norris. Norris led Ouachita in runs, walks and stolen bases last year. The 2015 Tigers will also feature last season's homerun leaders Jace Melby and Matt Sinclair, along with Will Wallace, who finished the 2014 season with a .317 batting average.
 
On the mound, the Tigers lost two main starters and a closer but are returning starter Tryce Schalchlin and reliever Josh Reeves. Schalchlin posted a 4-2 record in seven starts in 2014, and Reeves appeared in 21 games.
 
The Tigers will open the 2015 season with a four-game home series against St. Edward's University on Feb. 1 and 2.