ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – After taking the opening game of the series on Friday, the Ouachita Tigers dropped both games of a doubleheader against the Harding Bisons on Saturday. Harding defeated Ouachita 6-3 and 1-0, as Ouachita falls to 2-4 in the Great American Conference.
 
John Franklin Matros started on the mound for the Tigers in game one, but allowed four runs in 6.1 innings. Matros allowed one run in the first inning, but then held Harding (7-7, 3-3 GAC) scoreless for the next five. In the top of the seventh, though, the Bisons scored three runs to take a 4-2 lead.
 
Ouachita (4-10, 2-4 GAC) scored its two runs in the bottom of the second inning. Aaron Studdard recorded his first career hit for Ouachita, scoring Victor Draijer from second. Later in the inning with the bases loaded, Justin Weigle was hit by a pitch, bringing in Studdard from third to give Ouachita a 2-1 lead.
 
After the Bisons took a 4-2 lead in the top of the seventh, Ouachita responded with a solo homerun down the left-field line by Ty Owens. Harding was able to recorded two consecutive outs, however, keeping a one-run lead.
 
In the top of the ninth, Harding added two more runs on an error and a sacrifice fly to take a 6-3 lead. In the bottom of the inning, Jakahari Howell walked and Weigle was hit by another pitch, but the Bisons once again escaped the inning and evened the series with the win.
 
In the second game, Connor Reed started on the mound for Ouachita. Reed went the distance for the Tigers, throwing seven innings and striking out five. Reed allowed just two hits in the game, one of which being the winning homerun in the top of the seventh.
 
Ouachita recorded seven hits in the loss, but could not score a run. The Tigers left six runners on base, including two that reached third.
 
The Tigers will return to action on Tuesday, March 1, as Ouachita hosts Lyon College for a midweek, non-conference match. The first pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.