By: Houston Taylor
MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Using a 6-3 win, Southern Arkansas salvaged a split with Ouachita Baptist by taking the second game of a Gulf South Conference doubleheader Wednesday at the Ballpark on Stadium Drive. The Lady Tigers (14-21, 3-7 GSC) tossed a 6-0 shutout in the opener.
It was the first action for the Lady Muleriders (6-14, 1-7 GSC) since dropping two games to Arkansas Tech on March 15. The victory gave SAU its first league win and snapped an eight-game losing streak in the process, going back to March 1 when they claimed a 9-1 margin over Missouri Southern State at the Pittsburg State Classic in Pittsburg, Kan.
Southern Arkansas used eight hits in picking up their six runs and held a 4-0 advantage after four innings behind a three-run third. Catcher Tancy Matthews had a two-run single and first baseman Megan Holliday an RBI single in the inning. OBU made a late run, plating three runs in the fifth, but the Lady Muleriders responded with two in the bottom half to hold on for the win.
SAU committed one error and stranded six runners, while Ouachita Baptist got their three runs on seven hits, made one error, and left seven on base.
Matthews and Holliday each had only the singles in the game, but drove in two runs each. Designated player Kirstie Reed and centerfielder Samantha Hoelscher had two hits apiece, including a double for Reed, and Hoelscher scored two runs.
Alex Doyle (3-4) went six innings in picking up the win. She allowed six hits, the three runs, all earned, and three walks, while striking out three. Sarah Holub entered in the seventh after the Lady Tiger’s Beth McGhee led off with a double and Randi Wilson followed with a line drive single off Doyle’s hip. After giving up a single, Holub induced a double play ball and a groundout to finish it off, picking up her first save of the season.
Rigsbee had a triple that scored all three OBU runs in the fifth, but she was on the losing end in the circle, falling to 5-6. Besides the eight hits and six earned runs, she walked and fanned three.
Ouachita Baptist pounded out 11 hits in getting the win in the opener. They had two errors and stranded seven. Southern Arkansas had but three hits, made three miscues, and left four on base.
Randi Wilson and Rigsbee each had doubles for the Lady Tigers, with Wilson going 3 for 4 from the leadoff spot and scoring two runs.
Holliday, Cheyenne Savony, and Samantha Mauer had the Lady Muleriders’ three singles.
McGhee (5-3) went the distance in getting the win, allowing just two SAU runners to advance as far as second base, while striking out five.
Savony (3-5) also went the entire route in taking the loss. Five of her six runs were earned, she walked one, and struck out five.
The two teams complete the four-game conference series Saturday in Arkadelphia in a 1 p.m. doubleheader.
Photos by Aaron Morris, SAU sports information
