Box Score ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – Behind a complete-game from
Connor Eller and three runs batted in by
Justin Weigle, the Ouachita Tigers defeated the Southern Arkansas Muleriders 8-2 in the opening game of the weekend series. Eller earned his GAC-leading fifth win of the season and has yet to be handed a loss.
After SAU (15-8, 6-4 GAC) put runners on second and third in the top of the first inning, Eller struck out the next two batters to escape the inning without allowing a run.
In the bottom of the inning,
Parker Norris led off the game for the Tigers with a double and scored two pitches later when Weigle doubled to left center. With one out in the top of the first,
Will Wallace singled up the middle, which allowed Weigle to score from second.
Down 2-0, the Muleriders rallied in the second inning to tie the game. The two runs came on a single through the left side. Southern Arkansas recorded three consecutive two-out singles in the inning to score, before the Tigers recorded a third out.
Weigle picked up his second RBI in the bottom of the third when he led off with a homer over the right field wall. Wallace doubled later in the inning, but Ouachita could not hit him home as SAU forced two groundouts to end the inning.
After holding the Muleriders scoreless in the fourth, the Tigers added to their lead with
Tyler Faught led off the bottom of the inning with a single up the middle. After a sacrifice bunt by
Drew Feuerbacher,
Jakahari Howell singled through the left side to score Faught and put Ouachita ahead 4-2. Howell then score two batters later when Weigle tripled to left center.
Both teams were held scoreless in the fifth and sixth innings, and in the bottom of the seventh,
Matt Sinclair was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to give Ouachita a 6-2 lead.
Eller held the Muleriders scoreless in the top of the eighth, and the Tigers added two more runs in the bottom half of the inning. Feuerbacher started with a single to right center before Norris advanced him to third on another single. With two outs,
Jace Melby doubled to left center to score both runners.
With one more chance at a comeback, SAU led off the top of the ninth with a single. Eller forced a groundball on the very next at bat, however, allowing
Reuben Miller to convert the five-four-three double play. Eller then forced a groundout to Weigle to end the game.
Eller (5-0) went full nine innings, allowing two runs and striking out six. On the season, he has three complete-games, two shutouts and an ERA of 2.40.
Weigle led the offense for Ouachita, as he was a single short of the cycle. He finished with three hits, three runs batted in, two runs and a walk. He currently leads the team with season average of .431 and a slugging percentage of .843. Norris added three hits, as well, to raise his season average to .362, while Wallace went 2-3 with an RBI to raise his average to .365.
The Tigers (10-5, 6-0 GAC) will play the Muleriders again on Tuesday, March 17, for a midweek-nonconference game. The game will be in Magnolia, Ark. and is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m.
