The Ouachita Baptist University softball team opened Gulf South Conference West Division action Saturday afternoon at rival Henderson State as the Lady Tigers dropped both games of a doubleheader, 6-1 and 5-4 at Dee White Field.
In the opener, Kristen Rigsbee fell to 5-4 after working six innings. She was tagged for six runs (five earned) on seven hits with three walks and four strikeouts. She also went 2-for-3 at the plate.
Henderson State (12-9 overall, 2-0 GSC West) struck first with four runs on two hits as Ouachita (11-11, 0-2) committed a pair of errors in the first inning.
The Lady Tigers cut into the Henderson State lead with a run in the top of the third.
With two outs in the frame, Monica Davis doubled and scored on a Rigsbee base hit.
The Lady Reddies put the game away with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth to get the 6-1 win.
Melissa Decker pitched a complete game to earn the win. She gave up a run on five hits with two walks and three strikeouts.
In the second game, Ouachita plated three runs in the top of the fifth to grab a 3-0 lead.
With one out in the frame, Jana Deen singled and with two down, Davis and Rigsbee hit back-to-back base hits to load the bases. Haley Chambers followed with a two-RBI ringlet and Rigsbee scored when Sarah Bell walked with the bases load.
However, Henderson State scored four in the bottom of the inning to take a 4-3 advantage.
The Lady Tigers tied the game in the top of the seventh as Chambers led off with a base hit and with one out, Bell singled to move Kelli Beth Bratton, who pinch ran for Chambers to second. Aspen Grams doubled to score Bratton to tie the game at 4.
The Lady Reddies won the game in the bottom half of the inning as Heather Canerday reached on a two-out single, and then stole second. She scored on Catherine Jones’ single to give Henderson State the sweep.
Crystal Robinson went 4 1/3 innings for the Lady Tigers. She gave up three runs (two earned) on six hits with a walk and a strikeout. Sara Hanson took the loss as she surrendered two runs on four hits with a walk and a strikeout in 2 1/3 innings.
Patti Collins started for Henderson State, going 4 2/3 innings. She was tagged for three runs on 10 hits with a strikeout. Melissa Decker picked up the victory by working 2 1/3 innings. She gave up a run, while scattering five hits.
The two teams complete the Gulf South Conference West Division series with a 1:00 p.m., Sunday, March 8 doubleheader at Dee White Field.
