Bethany, Okla. — The Ouachita softball team used a six-run fifth inning to roar back for a slight lead in Friday's road game, but Southern Nazarene answered and held on for a 9-7 win in the series opener.

Ouachita (8-13, 5-5 GAC) hit around to erase a 6-1 deficit in the fifth, ignited when junior slugger Emily Reed lifted a 2-run homer over the centerfield wall for her eighth homer of the season. The next five Tigers reached safely as freshman Addison Davidson hit a double to left, then junior Jordyn Merrett followed with an RBI single to left. Ouachita capped the rally and took its lone lead after freshman Reagan McCoy pulled a 2-run blast over the left field wall for her first collegiate homer. 

After the Tigers flipped the scoreboard and claimed a 7-6 lead, the Crimson Storm instantly retaliated in the bottom half. Southern Nazarene capitalized on a throwing error to level the score and plated three runs to reclaim control. The Crimson Storm finished with 14 hits and scored three runs in the second, fourth and fifth innings to claim the series opener to improve to 10-14 (5-5 GAC) this season. Senior pitcher Olivia Hernandez (3-7) held the Tigers scoreless through 1.2 innings to earn the win, while junior southpaw Ashley Larson recorded the final two outs in the seventh to earn her first save.

Ouachita collected eight hits, but stranded 10 runners on base in the loss. In the circle, sophomore Catie Amador allowed two runs in 1.1 innings, then junior Karley Burrow pitched two innings of relief and allowed four earned runs. Freshman Ryleigh Stinson (0-1) took the loss, allowing three runs in the fifth. 

Ouachita continues its road series with a doubleheader against Southern Nazarene on Saturday, with first pitch scheduled for noon.