ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – Ouachita Softball split weekday Great American Conference double-header with University of Arkansas- Monticello.
The Tigers would hit well on the day as they put in six hits in each game against Monticello.
Marissa Butler would pitch a combined 12.2 innings and pick up her seventh victory of the year.
Jillian Jones would drive in two runs for the Tigers on a home run in the second game.
The Tigers got out of a jam in the opening inning after Butler struck out the Blossoms clean-up hitter with a runner on third base.
Natalie Jackson would hit a one single then advance from first to third on a
Jillian Jones sacrifice bunt. However, the Tigers could not get Jackson home as they would go to the second tied at zero with the Blossoms.
The second inning saw both teams go three up and three down. In the top of the third Monticello would put in three hits which was good enough to give them two runs. The Tigers would look to respond in the bottom of the third after
Tobi Finley singled with two outs. However, she would be thrown out attempting to steal second base.
In the fourth the Blossoms would put runners on second and third, but Butler would again get an inning ending strikeout to hold UAM scoreless. The Tigers would get on base in both of the bottom of the fifth and the sixth, but they would make inning ending double plays with aggressively attempting to advance on the base path. In the bottom of the seventh with two outs,
Kelsey O'Brien would pinch hit and blast a single up the middle.
Leighton Withers would send a shot to the wall in left field that just missed being a game tying homerun. The Tigers would fall with a score of 2-0.
In the second inning
Mabry Smith would get the start for the Tigers. She would get out of an early jam as the Blossoms would send out three singles to open the game. Smith would force to bunt pop-outs and then get a fly out with the bases loaded.
Marissa Butler would come in the second inning with runners on first and second and shut the door on the Blossoms chances of scoring a run.
In the bottom of the third the Tigers would allow UAM to start the inning off with a single and a double. The Blossoms would score one run off of a sacrifice fly that would end the inning after a baserunner would be caught in a pickle. The run would cross the plate before the out was made so Monticello would take a 2-0 lead into the bottom of the third.
In the bottom of the fourth the Tigers would get two quick outs, putting
Macy Wilson at the plate. Wilson would get to a 2-2 count before ripping a double into right-center field.
Jillian Jones would bat next and also fall to a 2-2 count before blasting a homerun over the center field fence, hitting the road behind Sully Anderson Field. The Tigers would not end there as
Leighton Withers would hit her own homerun giving the Tigers a 3-2 lead.
Halley Ryburn and
Madison Miller would both put in singles before UAM recorded the final out of the inning.
In the final half inning the Blossoms would put up a fight as they would put runners on second and third after an error and a hit. The Tigers would sub in freshman pitcher
Laurel Glatch to close out the game. Glatch would get the final batter to pop-up to the first baseman in so doing recording her first save in her Ouachita Career.
The Tigers will return to Sully Anderson Field on Friday, April 5 for a double header against East Central University. Come out and support your Tigers the weekend!
