ARKADELPHIA — The Ouachita softball team fell just short Friday night in a 4-3 loss to drop the opener of the final home series to Southeastern Oklahoma State at Langston Field.
The Tigers claimed their only lead in the second inning after Emily Reed roped the 18th home run of her junior season over the left field wall, extending her own single-season program record. Reed led Ouachita at the plate with two hits and two RBI.
Southeastern (21-27, 13-17 GAC) answered in the third inning by stringing together three consecutive hits to score a pair of runs and take the lead. Senior Illiana Olivares delivered an RBI single to center, then freshman Tally Rowland followed with an line drive RBI knock down the left field line. The duo later hit consecutive doubles as Rowland drove in Olivares to put Southeastern ahead 3-1. The Storm increased the lead in the fourth on a solo homer to left-center from freshman McKenna Simmons.
Ouachita (20-29, 14-17 GAC) responded in the bottom of the fourth inning with consecutive base hits to trim into the deficit. Freshman Alaina Lyle pulled an two-out RBI single to right field and Reed followed with an RBI single to center, but a miscue on the base paths from the tying run ultimately ended the threat. The first two batters for the Tigers reached safely to start the sixth, but the Storm turned a 5-3 double play to instantly halt the rally. Southeastern junior reliever Alyson Malone retired the final five batters she faced to secure the save.
Ouachita hosts Southeastern in the final home doubleheader on Saturday, with Great American Conference Tournament positioning on the line. First pitch is set for noon as the program celebrates 'Remi Day' to recognize the redshirt-senior prior to the start of Game 2.
