Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 ARKADELPHIA, Ark. -
Parker Norris hits a walk-off double in the bottom of the eighth inning to give the Ouachita Tigers a 5-4 win in game two of a doubleheader versus arch-rival Henderson State. The win put the Tigers back in first place of the Great American Conference standings with one game remaining in the regular season.
Norris' double broke a 4-4 tie in extra-innings, driving home
Evan Ruiz for the winning run. It was a fitting way for the Tigers to win the game as both players were honored prior to the game with their other senior teammates,
Tyler Faught,
Jace Melby and
Matt Sinclair.
Trailing the Reddies 4-0 in the bottom of the fifth inning, the Tigers rallied. After two singles to start the inning,
Justin Weigle doubled to left center, scoring Norris and
Ryan Hammer. Melby singled to up the middle to advance Weigle to third.
Will Wallace reached safely on sacrifice bunt attempt after the Reddie first baseman mishandled a ball thrown to him. That error allowed Weigle to score to make it a 4-3 game.After a walk loaded the bases,
Tyler Faught hit an infield singe to third, scoring Melby and tying the game 4-4.
Josh Reeves entered the game in relief in the bottom of the sixth. He retired the first seven batters hit faced before allowing two singles. He would get the final Reddie batter to pop out and the end the top of the eighth with the scored still tied, 4-4.
With one out in the bottom of the eighth,
Evan Ruiz doubled down the right field line.
Parker Norris drove a 1-0 pitch off the bottom of the wall in left field for the walk-off double and game-winning RBI.
Josh Reeves got the win, improving to 2-0.
The Tigers dropped game one to the Reddies, 2-0.
Connor Eller (8-2) went the distance for the Tigers, giving up two runs, one earned on nine hits over nine innings. He struck out three in a losing effort, picking up his second loss of the season. The Tigers offense was held to hit hits in the first game.
Ouachita improved to 24-14 on the day, 14-7 in the GAC. Ouachita can lock up the regular season conference title with a win tomorrow against Henderson State. The two teams will square off at 1:00 p.m. tomorrow at Rab Rodgers Field.
