ADA, Okla. – After suffering a heartbreaking walk-off loss in Saturday's opener, the Ouachita softball team left no doubt with a 9-1 statement in the rubber match to claim the opening series win over East Central.
Ouachita was limited to just three hits in Game 1, but made the most of an early opportunity to build an edge in the first inning. With the bases loaded, junior Emily Reed grounded out to bring home the first run. The Tigers pounced to a 3-0 lead after freshman Alaina Lyle followed with a two-run single to left field. Junior Crissa Ahrens paced the offense, going 2-for-3 at the plate with two doubles and two runs scored.
Senior Hannah Hunter was steady with a quality start in the circle, allowing three earned runs over 6.1 innings as Ouachita carried a 5-4 lead into the final frame. Hunter had retired nine consecutive batters before East Central collected consecutive singles to force a pitching change.
After a walk loaded the bases, freshman Parker Rodgers had East Central down to its final strike. Senior Elyse LeClair hit a two-hopper that slipped through the legs of a sliding infielder, allowing the winning run to score from second as the throw to the plate was too late. Ouachita had never trailed in the series until the pair of unearned runs scored to complete the 6-5 comeback win for East Central.
The Tigers exploded for five runs in the first inning of the rubber match. With the bases juiced, the freshman delivered as Lyle poked a double to the left-center gap and cleared the bases. Lyle finished 2-for-5 with five RBI in Saturday's doubleheader. Junior Jordyn Merrett followed with an RBI triple off the right-center wall, then scored on a wild pitch to cap the five-run frame.
Ouachita added four more runs in the third after junior Karley Burrow ripped a two-run double down the left-field line, then scored on an infield error to take a commanding 9-0 lead. Sophomore Catie Amador tossed a complete game and struck out five batters against one run allowed. In two wins to take the opening series, Amador compiled a 2.10 ERA with 10 strikeouts across 10 innings.
Ouachita moved to 4-8 overall after picking up a series win in Oklahoma, with four losses this season coming by a single run. The Tigers continue their road swing on Tuesday with a doubleheader at Texas A&M-Texarkana.
