Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – The Ouachita Tigers split a two-game doubleheader with the fifth-ranked Henderson State Reddies on Saturday, losing game one 3-2 but winning the second 3-2. Justin Weigle led the Tigers with four hits on the day.
 
The Tigers struck early in the first game, as Parker Norris led off the bottom of the first inning by reaching on an error. After a single by Weigle to send Norris to third, Jace Melby grounded into a double play but Norris reached home and put Ouachita ahead 1-0.
 
After three consecutive scoreless innings for both teams, Ouachita added to its lead when Will Wallace scored Weigle on a sacrifice fly to right field. Weigle scored from third after doubling down the left field line to reach base and advancing on a sacrifice bunt by Melby.
 
Connor Eller started on the mound for Ouachita and held the Reddies (9-3) scoreless through the first five innings. In the top of the sixth inning, however, Henderson opened with a double and later scored two runs on two singles. With runners on second and third, Lance Cullum replaced Eller and escaped the inning without surrendering a third run.
 
With the score tied 2-2 in the bottom of the seventh, Weigle singled up the middle but Henderson would record the third out immediately after and send the seven-inning game into extras.
 
In the top of the eighth, the Reddies loaded the bases with one out and took a 3-2 on a passed ball. The Tigers attempted to answer in the bottom of the inning, but the Reddies recorded three consecutive outs after Wallace led off with a single.
 
Cullum (1-3) was handed the loss for Ouachita, despite striking out four batters in 2.1 innings. Eller pitched 5.2 innings and recorded five batters.
 
In the second game, Henderson State scored first on an RBI-single to right field in the second inning. The Tigers responded, however, in the bottom of the fourth. Melby led off the inning with a single, and Wallace followed with a single on a bunt. The Reddies then committed two errors to load the bases and allow both Melby and Wallace to score. A sacrifice fly from Ryan Hammer later in the inning extended the Tigers' lead to 3-1.
 
In the top of the fifth, starter John Franklin Matros gave up one run but got out of the inning while Ouachita still held a 3-2 lead. Matros was replaced before the sixth inning by Tripp Cecil who gave up one hit but no runs in one inning.
 
Cullum made his second appearance of the day in the top of the seventh, striking out three consecutive batters to earn his third save of the season and seal the win for the Tigers.
 
Matros (3-0) earned the win while striking out two batters and giving up four hits.
 
Weigle finished the day batting 4-8 with one run to bring his season average up to .413. Wallace batted a combined 2-5 with one run and one run batted in. Hammer and Faught each recorded RBI, as well.
 
The Tigers (8-5, 4-0 GAC) will host Harding University on Tuesday, March 3, for a non-conference, midweek matchup. The first pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.