ARKADELPHIA- There wasn’t the same late-game heroics feel to the 9-1 victory over Christian Brothers in Game 1 on Sunday, but it worked just the same, as Ouachita Baptist officially punched their ticket to the Gulf South Conference Tournament. The Lady Tigers will make their second-straight trip, despite dropping their second game of the doubleheader, 5-2, at Sully Anderson Field in Arkadelphia on Sunday.
Ouachita (36-22, 14-16 GSC West) used a dominating performance on both ends in Game 1 against Christian Brothers (17-29, 6-20 GSC West). Ouachita junior starter Kristen Rigsbee (19-9) went the distance and allowed just four hits and one earned run for the victory. Junior Sarah Bell added 4 RBI at the plate and propelled the Lady Tigers to seven runs combined in the fourth and fifth innings for the run-rule victory.
After both teams went scoreless in the opening inning, it was Ouachita Baptist who struck first in the second inning, as freshman Bailey Sanders recorded an RBI single to right field, scoring junior pinch runner Kelli Beth Bratton for a 1-0 lead. Sanders then scored later in the inning when Christian Brothers walked the bases loaded and walked in the freshman to give the Lady Tigers a 2-0 lead.
After a run was added by the Lady Buccaneers in the top of the third, Ouachita Baptist struck again in the bottom half of the fourth, scoring four runs on three hits. The scoring began when senior Korrine Cook opened the inning with a walk, followed by a bunt single from Sanders. After a walk from freshman Megan Askew, Christian Brothers pitcher Leigh Ann Henry was called for an illegal pitch, scoring Cook for a 3-1 lead. Bell then drove in a two-run double one batter lead to score a pair of runners in Askew and Sanders. With two outs, senior Haley Chambers then drove in Bell with an RBI single to center field for the final run of the inning to take a 6-1 lead.
After Christian Brothers was shut out in the top of the fifth, the Lady Tigers used a single from Cook and double from Sanders to score the first of three runs, stretching the lead to 7-1. After sophomore Jana Deen singled down the right field line, Bell ended the game with a two-run double to score junior pinch runner Whitley Hoppe and Deen to end the game at 9-1.
Along with Bell’s 4-RBI performance, Sanders finished at 3-for-3 at the plate with 2 RBI, while Cook added a 2-for-2 performance with a run scored.
In Game 2, Christian Brothers scored three runs in the opening two innings and never looked back. The Lady Buccaneers recorded three runs on Ouachita starter Kristen Rigsbee in the opening 1.2 innings, and the Lady Tigers could only add two runs in the fourth for the rest of the game.
Ouachita Baptist used singles from Deen and Chambers to open the fourth, followed by a two-run single from freshman Kayci Wilson to cut the deficit to 3-2.
Christian Brothers would add a pair of runs in the top of the sixth to win the final game of the series, 5-2, in the final regular season game for both programs.
Rigsbee took the loss for Ouachita, going 1.2 innings and allowing three earned runs on three hits. Wilson finished at 1-for-3 offensively, driving in 2 RBI, while five other Lady Tigers finished with a single each.
Ouachita Baptist will now await the official announcement of the GSC Tournament schedule with team seeds included. The Tournament will take place on Friday April 30-May 2 at the Southaven Greenbrook Complex in Southaven, Miss.
Stay tuned to athletics.obu.edu for full details of the Lady Tigers postseason schedule.
