ARKADELPHIA – The Ouachita Baptist University baseball team defeated third-ranked Southern Arkansas on Monday by a final score of 7-6 to avoid being swept and give the Muleriders their first Great American Conference loss of the season.
Ouachita (13-8, 9-3 GAC) built a big lead with four runs in the second and two in the fourth to lead 6-2 heading into the fifth. SAU (17-3, 9-1 GAC) fought back with three in the fifth and one in the eighth to tie the game.
The Tigers held SAU scoreless in the top of the ninth, and then scored the game-winning run on a two-out, RBI single by Wyatt Core in the bottom of the inning.
Ouachita's other scoring in the game came on two swings of the bat, a grand slam homerun by Noah Bachman in the second and a two-run double by Dustin Bermudez in the fourth.
For the 12th time this season, the Tigers hit double-digits in hits with 10, moving the Tigers to 10-2 this season when hitting the mark. Bermudez, Bachman, and Jaxon Chaney led the team with two hits each.
Bermudez also contributed on the mound, earning the win and moving to 2-0 this season after keeping the Muleriders scoreless and hitless in the final 1.2 innings. He, as well as starter Beau Burson and reliever Garret Hermes combined for 10 strikeouts.
The Tigers are back in action on Wednesday at home in a non-conference game against Christian Brothers, starting at 3 p.m. at Rab Rodgers Field. The Tigers beat the Bucs 11-4 last Tuesday in Memphis.
