ARKADELPHIA – The Ouachita Baptist University baseball team wrapped up the regular season with a Senior Day split on Sunday at home against Henderson State University, dropping the first game 10-9 before shutting out the Reddies 2-0 in the series finale.
The Tigers (35-15, 23-10 GAC) hit a combined six homeruns in the doubleheader on Sunday, four in the first game and two in the second game. Wyatt Core and Dustin Bermudez homered in both games to lead the Tiger offense. G. Allen and Michael Quinones added to the homerun derby with one each in the first game.
Luke House (6-3) was the star pitcher for the Tigers in the series finale, missing out on a complete game shut out by just one out. He kept the Reddies scoreless on four hits with five strikeouts in his quality outing. Cameron Marchant closed the door for the Tigers by striking out HSU's Greyson Stevens for the final out. It was his first save of the season.
Core and Bermudez each had solo homeruns in the win. For Core, it was his fourth of the season and third of the series. Bermudez homered in all three games of the series to move him into a tie for the team lead with 11 this season.
In Sunday's first game, four of Ouachita's six scoring plays came off of homeruns. Quinones started the rally with a solo shot in the second inning, his ninth of the year. Bermudez hit a two-run shot in the third inning. Core hit a two-run shot in the fifth inning, and then drew a bases loaded walk in the sixth inning. Isaac Nowell had a sacrifice fly in the seventh inning. G. Allen hit his 11th homerun of the season with a two-run shot in the bottom of the ninth to finalize the scoring.
Ouachita starting pitcher Teddy Webb kept the Reddies off of the scoreboard in the first four innings before allowing two runs in the fifth and two in the seventh before getting pulled. He ended up with a no decision for his six innings of work. HSU rallied for six runs in the eighth inning to take the lead which ultimately led to the Reddies' victory.
The Tigers honored their eight seniors prior to Sunday's first game. Those seniors include Zach Kuykendal, CW Schrader, Jud Arrington, Caleb Donoho, Jacob Bowman, Noah Bachman, Jaxon Chaney, and Bryce Smith.
With Ouachita's game three victory and other results from around the GAC, the Tigers have earned the No. 2 seed in the conference tournament. The top four seeds will play host for the first round, which is next weekend. Ouachita will host No. 7 seed Harding University on Friday and Saturday, May 5-6 at Rab Rodgers Field in a three-game series with the winner advancing to the GAC Tournament Final Four, which will be played May 11-13 in Springdale at Arvest Ballpark.
