PINE BLUFF, Arkansas – The Ouachita softball team picked up a much-needed sweep over the Division I Golden Lions of the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff that included a shutout victory in game one.
Game One: Ouachita 2, UAPB 0:
The first game of Ouachita's final nonconference doubleheader was a slow start for both teams, as just one hit was recorded over the first two innings.
Emma Scales broke the scoreless tie as the freshman scored on a wild pitch with the bases loaded to put Ouachita on the board.
From there, the pitchers' duel continued as Ouachita held a combined no-hitter going through five innings before the Golden Lions recorded two singles in the sixth. The Tigers kept UAPB off the board and added an insurance run when
Kyndall Fomby-Bell scored after an error on a ball batted by
Lauren Lester. Ouachita held on with a three-up-three-down bottom of the seventh to secure the 2-0 shutout victory and snap a seven-game losing streak.
Jenna Austin got the start and pitched 3.1 hitless innings and struck out two.
Hannah Hunter struck out six batters in 3.2 innings of relief to earn the win.
Bailey King went 2-for-2 with a walk to be the only Tiger with multiple hits and three other Tigers recorded hits in the win.
Game Two: Ouachita 6, UAPB 5:
The second game of the day got off to a similar start as the first as Ouachita and Arkansas-Pine Bluff were each held scoreless through two innings. However, the Tiger offense came to life in the third thanks to an RBI double from Lester, a two RBI triple from
Erin Williams, and a two RBI single from
Jordyn Merrett to give Ouachita a commanding 5-0 lead.
Merrett added her third RBI of the game with a single that scored
Remington Adams to push the Tiger lead to six. That sixth run proved to be the most important one of the day. The Golden Lions' offense came alive in the bottom of the seventh to score their first runs of the afternoon. UAPB put up five runs in the frame to make it a one-run game. But with two runners on and two outs,
Kodee Batchelor came in to strike out the final batter to cut the rally short and give Ouachita a 6-5 win.
Adams posted a perfect 4-for-4 performance at the plate with two runs scored. The four hits are the most in a game by Adams this season and the third time the sophomore has went perfect at the plate. Merrett led the Tigers in RBI with three followed by Williams with two.
Maggi Huddleston got the start for Ouachita and pitched three scoreless innings with two strikeouts to earn her third win of the season.
Tuesday Melton struck out one in 2.2 innings of work in the win.
The Tigers will look to keep the success going this weekend when they host the Rangers of Northwestern Oklahoma State in the final Great American Conference series of the season starting with a doubleheader on Friday, April 26 at 4 p.m. in Arkadelphia.
