ARKADELPHIA- It was a back and forth match up in game two, and when the dust settled, Ouachita Baptist split a doubleheader with North Alabama, with a 7-6 victory at Rab Rodgers Field on Saturday.
Ouachita (3-1) lost game one, 11-0, as North Alabama (4-1) put together a solid pitching performance from starter Trey Mitchell in the victory.
In the final game of the afternoon, the Tigers and Lions had three lead changes, including a two-run bottom of the sixth inning rally for Ouachita. Senior Kyle Zimmerman and sophomore Duncan Collins started things off with a pair of singles for the Tigers, followed by a double from junior Brock Green that scored Zimmerman to tie the game at 6-6.
An error by the North Alabama shortstop on a grounder from freshman Keegan Ghidotti gave Ouachita the go-ahead run that proved to be enough for the remainder of the game. North Alabama had just gone ahead, 6-5, in the top of the fifth inning with a three-run outburst.
Zimmerman was big throughout the second game, finishing 3-for-3, including three RBIs, while Ghidotti (2-for-3) and junior Brett Mazmanian (2-for-4, RBI) each collected two hits. Senior Sam McGill and junior Brock Green each had RBIs and a single and double.
After a two-run first inning to begin game two, Ouachita answered with three runs, as junior Brett Mazmanian led things off with a double, followed by seniors Sam McGill and Cass Via reaching base on a hit by pitch and fielder’s choice. After Via was thrown out at third on a fielder’s choice, Warner walked to load the bases for Zimmerman. The senior slammed a double to knock in three RBIs to give Ouachita a 3-2 lead.
Ghidotti doubles to left for the Tigers in the third, then scored on an RBI single from McGill, moving the score to 4-2. Ouachita and North Alabama traded solo runs in the fourth, as Warner walked and then scored on a passed ball to keep the lead at two for the Tigers at 5-3.
A three-run top of the fifth inning set the stage for the late inning comeback for the Tigers, as Ouachita scored two runs in the sixth and junior closer Taylor Burns shut down North Alabama in the final inning to seal the victory and split the doubleheader.
Senior Nick Holtgrieve (1-0) picked up the victory on the mound, going one inning and giving up just one hit, while freshman starter Davis Ward lasted four innings and allowed three earned runs, while striking out three. Junior Taylor Burns (1) picked up his first save of the season, going one inning and shutting down the North Alabama bats in the seventh inning.
In game one, Mitchell went the distance for a two-hit shutout in eight innings of work. Collins and junior Tom Ward each collected singles for Ouachita, as senior Kolby Moore (1-1) took the loss for the Tigers, going three innings and giving up seven earned runs and striking out two.
Junior Beau Martin gave Ouachita a solid relief appearance on the mound, going four innings on the mound, giving up just one earned run and striking out two.
Ouachita returns for the rubber match with North Alabama on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Rab Rodgers Field.
