Bentonville, Ark. – Tigers make history being the first eighth ranked team to knock off the number one seed. However, the fall in the end of the second game with a score of 7-4 to Southeastern Oklahoma.
The Tigers began the day squaring off with top seeded, 19 ranked nationally, Southern Arkansas in the first round of the tournament. The Tigers fell behind early as the Muleriders would take the early 1-0 lead.
The Tigers fought back in the third inning as
Natalie Jackson singled to left field. With two outs she stole second before
Macy Wilson singled through the left side. After a
Callie Jourdan walk,
Jillian Jones blasted a single to left field scoring two.
Tobi Finley and
Leighton Withers used errors by the Mulerider second basemen to give the Tigers a 4-1 advantage. The Muleriders tied the game in the bottom of the sixth on a three run homerun.
Marissa Butler continued to pitch the way she has her entire career as she through eight innings only allowing four runs and striking out nine. Heading into the top of the eighth,
Leighton Withers came to the plate and smacked a ball to left field. The ball bounced off the foul pole giving the Tigers the 5-4 advantage good enough to win the game.
In the second game of the day the Savage Storm used a big third inning to take a 7-0 lead.
Mabry Smith kept the Tigers in the game pitching 4.2 innings and only allowing one run. In the bottom of the sixth the Tigers started their comeback big.
Tori Herbert led off the inning with a pinch hit walk that was followed by a
Tobi Finley single to left field. Hero of the first game
Leighton Withers sent a bomb that hit the scoreboard in left field scoring three runs. In the bottom of the seventh
Callie Jourdan led the inning off with a walk. Two batters later
Leighton Withers hit a ball off the right center wall for a triple scoring the run from first. However, that would be the last run of the game as the Tigers would end their season with a 7-4 loss.
Interim Head Coach Leslie Dean and Assistant
Macy Nantz led the the Tigers to a 22-33 record. This season was played in remembrance of beloved Head Coach
Mike McGhee who passed away earlier in the season. Coach McGhee's memorial will be held tomorrow at 3:00 PM at Sully Anderson Field.