MEMPHIS, Tennessee – The Ouachita softball team split its midweek doubleheader against the Buccaneers of Christian Brothers University Tuesday afternoon.
Game One: Ouachita 5, Christian Brothers 4
Ouachita started off its spring break non-conference matchup behind as Christian Brothers got on the board first with a run in the bottom of the opening frame. It wasn't until after a scoreless second inning that the Tiger offense started to get going.
Emily Reed posted an RBI double to left, scoring
Jordyn Merrett to tie things up 1-1. The Buccaneers retook the lead with one run in the bottom of the third.
In the fifth inning, Reed delivered again, this time with an RBI single that scored
Kyndall Fomby-Bell to even the game at 2-2. The seventh inning is when the offense really started wake up. Merrett was brought home for the second time thanks to an RBI double from
Baylee King to give the Tigers their first lead of the game. An RBI sacrifice bunt from
Olivia See and an RBI double from
Avie Reams put Ouachita on top 5-2 heading into the final half inning.
Christan Brothers cut the deficit to just one run with a two-run homer in the seventh, but Ouachita held on to secure the 5-4 victory in game one.
Merrett and Reed both recorded multiple hits in the win, with Merrett going 2-for-2 with two runs and a walk, and Reed going 2-for-3 with two RBI.
Catie Amador got the start in the circle and pitched all but the final out. Amador gave up just two earned runs with one strikeout and zero walks in 6.2 innings of work.
Kodee Batchelor came in to close things out, recording the final out of the game to earn her fifth save of the year and break the Ouachita single season saves record that was set by Abbi Frakes in 2014.
Game Two: Christian Brothers 5, Ouachita 4
Christian Brothers came out swinging in game two and jumped out to a five-run lead after the first three innings. The Bucs held Ouachita scoreless until the offense got a rally going in the sixth inning.
Marli Huddleston got the scoring started with an RBI double to left, scoring Merrett and putting the Tigers on the board.
Remington Adams followed with an RBI single that scored Reed and an error on the play allowed
Cierra Kemp to make it home too, making it a 5-3 game with one out. Then, a sacrifice fly from
Jessalyn Ahrens scored Adams to bring the game within one run. But the Ouachita rally ended there, and the Tigers fell by the final score of 5-4.
Merrett again recorded multiple hits in game two, going 2-for-4 in the loss.
Marli Huddleston added two hits of her own, going 2-for-3 at the plate with an RBI.
Callie Kilburn got the start in the circle for Ouachita and struck out two in 3.2 innings of work but earned the loss.
Haley McAdams pitched 2.1 innings of scoreless relief, allowing just two hits.
The Tigers will stay on the road for their weekend GAC series against the Golden Suns of Arkansas Tech University, which is set to start this Friday, March 28 at 5 p.m. in Russellville.
