ALVA, Okla. - Behind a complete game and eight strikeouts from Connor Eller, the Ouachita Tigers defeated the Northwestern Oklahoma State Rangers, 7-2, on Friday. All nine batters for Ouachita reached base safely, with seven recording at least one hit.
Ty Owens led off the nine-inning contest with a walk and later scored on a single through the right side of the infield by Will Wallace. The RBI was Wallace's 10th of the season, and team-leading 33rd hit.
Eller started on the mound for Ouachita (9-21, 5-14 GAC) and held Northwestern Oklahoma State (11-23, 8-11 GAC) scoreless through the first two innings.
In the bottom of the third, however, the Rangers tied the score with a homerun over the right field wall. The Tigers answered in the top of the fourth, with two runs on two hits and two errors. Preston Speers started the rally by reaching first on an error, and Drew Feuerbacher singled to send Speers to third. A single by Jakahari Howell scored both runners, giving the Tigers a 3-1 lead.
Ouachita then extended its lead in the top of the seventh, with three runs on three hits and one more error by the Rangers. After a single by Owens, Victor Draijer doubled down the left field line to put two runners in scoring position. Then, with two outs, Wallace reached on an error that scored both runs. Speers then followed with a single to score Wallace and put Ouachita ahead by five.
Northwestern scored one run in the bottom of the seventh, but the Tigers responded immediately with one more run in the top of the eighth. With a 7-2 lead, Eller finished the game, earning his third win of the season.
Eller allowed just four hits and one walk in nine innings while giving up two runs. Draijer led the Tigers with two hits, improving his conference batting average to a team-high .328. Owens finished with a game-high three runs, and Howell led all players with two runs batted in.
The Tigers will finish their three-game series with the Rangers on Saturday in a doubleheader beginning at noon.Â
