ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – Behind a complete game and 13 strikeouts from Connor Eller, the Ouachita Tigers opened a three-game series against the Harding Bisons with a 4-1 win on Friday.
 
Both teams were held scoreless through the first three innings, as Eller struck out five of the first 11 batters for Harding (5-8, 1-3 GAC). After striking out two more and holding the Bisons scoreless in the top of the fourth, the Tigers took a 1-0 lead on a solo homerun by Kyle Alexander. The homer to left-centerfield was Alexander's first of his career at Ouachita.
 
After both Harding and Ouachita (4-8, 2-2 GAC) recorded three outs on three batters in the top and bottom of the fifth, Harding tied the score at 1-1 with a lead-off homer to left field. Eller responded, however, with back-to-back strikeouts and a groundout to end the half-inning.
 
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Drew Feuerbacher led the Tigers off with a single up the middle, and a double off the wall by Ty Owens pushed Feuerbacher to third. Jakahari Howell then followed with a single through the left side of the infield to score both Feuerbacher and Owens.
 
After he stole second, Howell reached home to put the Tigers ahead 4-1 on a single up the middle by Justin Weigle. Then in the top of the ninth, Eller gave up a lead-off single, but eventually ended the game after a double play from Weigle to Aaron Studdard to Will Wallace.
 
Howell led the Tigers with two runs batted in, including the winning run for Ouachita. Weigle and Alexander each added an RBI, as well.
 
Eller's 13 strikeouts are the most by a Tiger since Feb. 28, 2014, when Davis Ward struck out 14 batters against Southern Arkansas University. Eller also recorded his 100^th career strikeout in the victory.
 
The Tigers will continue their series with Harding on Saturday, as Ouachita hosts a doubleheader with the Bisons beginning at 12 p.m. at Rab Rodgers Field.