ARKADELPHIA- The Tigers had a few chances on Sunday to take a series victory, but No. 4 Central Missouri put together a five-run fifth inning to take a 10-5 non-conference win at Rab Rodgers Field on Sunday.
Ouachita (4-4) took a 3-2 lead after a three-run third inning, but the No. 4 Mules (2-1) totaled five runs in the fifth and that was the difference in a close match up.
Central Missouri grabbed a 2-0 lead with two runs in the top of the second, but Ouachita answered right back with three in the bottom of the third. Senior Cass Via began the inning with a single, then scored when junior Brett Mazmanian recorded an RBI on a hit by pitch, after the Tigers loaded the bases with a hit by pitch to senior Kyle Zimmerman and walk to junior Brock Green.
Senior Justin Hall then followed with an RBI on a walk, scoring Zimmerman to tie the game at 2-2. Senior Sam McGill gave Ouachita a 3-2 lead on an RBI groundout that scored Green.
The Tigers scored a pair of runs in the seventh, as senior Ben Warner opened the inning with a single, then Green followed with an RBI single up the middle. Hall followed with a single and McGill drove in a run on a sacrifice RBI on a double play groundout.
Among the game-changing situations were Ouachita leaving three runners on in the third inning, while the Tigers left a pair of runners on in the eighth and ninth innings, as well. A total of 12 runners were stranded on Sunday for Ouachita.
Junior Beau Martin (0-1) took the loss on the mound for Ouachita, going four innings and giving up seven earned runs. At the plate, juniors Brock Green and Tom Ward each finished 2-for-4, while McGill added a 1-for-4 afternoon with two RBI. Sophomore Duncan Collins (1-for-4), Via (1-for-4), Hall (1-for-4) and Warner (1-for-4) each added hits for Ouachita.
Ouachita will travel to Fort Worth, Texas to LaGrave Field to take on Angelo State on Tuesday, Feb. 22 at 1 p.m. The ballpark is the site of the Fort Worth ‘Cats minor league baseball team.
