ARKADELPHIA – What started out as a low-scoring pitchers dual ended up an offensive showcase with the Ouachita baseball team coming away with a 13-10 victory over Arkansas-Fort Smith on Saturday at home.
The Tigers move to 2-0 this season and will face off against Missouri Southern in a double header on Sunday starting at noon at Rab Rodgers Field. UAFS falls to 0-3.
UAFS tallied eight hits in the first five innings, but Ouachita starter
Reece Tarini kept working out of jams to only allow two runs in his no decision. The Lions scored their other eight runs in the final four innings, including a six spot in the top of the sixth, which matched Ouachita's six-run inning in the bottom of the fifth.
Each team scratched one across in the second inning with Ouachita's
Cade Bowman collecting an RBI groundout for the first Tiger run.
Ouachita's six-run fifth inning was highlighted by a two-run single by
Kyndall Cassidy and a two-run double by
Jaren Ceasar. Ceasar finished the game 3-for-5 in his Ouachita debut.
After UAFS rallied in the sixth to take an 8-7 lead, the Tigers got back on top in the bottom of the frame on an RBI single from
Reece McWilliams and a sac fly by
Raygan Yager.
Ouachita put up another crooked number in the seventh with four Tigers coming across the plate on RBI at bats from
Garrett Graham,
Joseph Bolin, and
Connor Hill.
David Bull was 2-for-6 for the Tigers and finished with four stolen bases in the victory.
Lucas Mercado came on in relief in the sixth and finished the game, giving up just two runs on four hits with four strikeouts and one walk to earn his first collegiate victory.
Sunday's double header against Missouri Southern will feature two seven-inning games.
