ALVA, Okla. - The Ouachita Tigers earned a 10-inning win over the Northwestern Oklahoma State Rangers on Saturday, behind Jakahari Howell's first career homerun. Ouachita won the game, 5-4, before losing the second game of the doubleheader, 4-1.
Ouachita (10-22, 6-15 GAC) struggled offensively in the first game, recording just one hit and no runs through the first four innings. Northwestern Oklahoma State (12-24, 9-11 GAC) took the early advantage, scoring three runs on two hits and one error in the bottom of the first.
In the top of the fifth, however, Howell evened the score with a three-run homer over the left field wall. Howell earned his first career homerun, scoring Austin White and Aaron Studdard, who both reached base after being hit by a pitch.
The Rangers responded with one run in the bottom of the fifth to take a 4-3 lead, but John Franklin Matros struck out the third out to keep the one-run deficit and leave two runners on base.
After three scoreless innings, Ouachita finally tied the score again in the top of the ninth on an two-out RBI-single by Drew Feuerbacher. The Tigers then loaded the bases but could not take the lead, leaving all three on base.
Josh Reeves replaced Matros for the bottom of the ninth inning and held the Rangers scoreless. Then, in the top of the 10th, Will Wallace recorded a single, and Justin Weigle scored all the way from first base on an error to put the Tigers up, 5-4. Reeves allowed one batter on base in the bottom of the inning, but recorded three outs before any runs crossed the plate, securing the one-run win for Ouachita.
Reeves earned his second win of the season, pitching two innings and allowing just one hit. Matros spent eight innings on the mound and struck out seven.
In the second game of the doubleheader, the Tigers recorded only three hits. Northwestern posted 12 hits, including a two-run homer in the third inning that put the Rangers ahead, 3-0.
Ouachita's one run came in the top of the sixth inning, when Wallace scored Ryan Hammer on an RBI-ground out. Hammer led off the inning with a double before advancing around on two ground outs.
Hammer and White were the only Tigers to record a hit in the loss, with White getting two of the three. Connor Reed suffered the loss, allowing four runs in 3.1 innings. Zach Gloff finished the game on the mound, pitching 2.2 innings without surrendering a run.
The Tigers will return to action on Tuesday, as Ouachita hosts Arkansas Tech at 2 p.m.
