ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – Tiger's Softball used a strong start to capture a 6-3 win over Northeastern State in the last day of the Alvy Ealy Invitational. 
 
Freshman Mabry Smith lead the charge for the Tigers from the mound and batting at home plate. She only gave up two hits and one run in 4.2 innings including eight strikeouts. Smith also had a double in the second inning which gave the Tigers their first run of the game. Freshman Madison Miller hit a three run, left field homerun in the second inning to extend Ouachita's lead. Ouachita put in 10 hits to score the six runs including multiple at bats that ended in hits after going to full counts.
 
Coach Nantz on the freshman impact, "Madi Miller stepped up giving us some run assurance with her three run homerun. Mabry Smith pitched a great game and helped give us the lead with her double. Jillian Jones also played a great game from behind the plate and helped used her hitting to maintain the lead."
 
In the first inning the Riverhawks would get a leadoff run, but after two strikeouts and a ground out the Tigers would take over in the bottom half. Ouachita sent three batters to the plate but all returned as the game entered the second inning. In the top half Smith made quick work as she sat down three straight batters.
 
In the bottom of the second Samantha Ortiz lead off the with a single after going into a full count. Tobi Finley followed up Ortiz's at bat with a sharply driven ball to left field for a hit. Two batters later Mabry Smith would come to the plate and lace a hit down the left field line to drive in Ortiz. Madison Miller would get behind in the count, but she would find a pitch she liked blasting it over the left field wall. The Tigers would leave the second inning with a 4-0 lead.
 
In the third Northeastern State would add another single, but Smith would shut down the inning striking out the last batter. Leighton Withers would start off the bottom of the third with getting hit by a pitch. Tobi Finley later in the inning would get a hit moving Withers to second. Jillian Jones would walk, and Macy Wilson would drive home a run on a single. However, Finley would be thrown out at home to end the inning. Neither team could do anything in the fourth, and the Tigers held a 5-0 lead going into the fifth.
 
In the top of the fifth the Riverhawks would get a run, but Marissa Butler would strikeout the last batter to escape two batters in scoring position. In the bottom of the fifth Tobi Finley would get on base for the third time of the day with a leadoff walk. Jillian Jones would follow her with a rocket single hit to put two on for the Tigers. However, Ouachita would not get any runners across the plate.
 
In the bottom of the sixth the Tigers would see Natalie Jackson lead off the inning with a single. Samantha Ortiz would draw a walk before Jillian Jones just missed her second homerun driving a ball against the center field wall scoring Jackson. Marissa Butler would close out the game in the seventh securing the Tigers the win.
 
 
 
"Today was a total team effort as we stepped up to face the Riverhawks for the second time this season. Mabry and Marissa brought great pitching, our defense was locked in and our bats came alive giving us momentum into conference play next week, "said Coach Macy Nantz on the Tiger win.
 
 
The Tigers return to action on Friday February 22 to face off against University of Arkansas at Monticello in their conference home opener.