Patrick Lemmond picked up his third save of the season on a game-ending double play as the third-ranked Ouachita Baptist University baseball team held off No. 23 West Alabama, 5-3, Friday afternoon at Tartt Field.
The Tigers (10-3) got things started with the first batter as Blake Lockwood hit his third homer of his career and second this season – a shot to right center – to give Ouachita a 1-0 lead.
The advantage grew to 3-0 in the top of the fifth as the Tigers struck for a pair of runs on three hits.
Drew Wurzelbacher began the frame with a single to right and advanced to second when Lockwood, who went 4-for-5, beat out a bunt and both moved up a base on a throwing error. JoeDan Poulter plated Wurzelbacher with a ground out to second and Lockwood scored on an RBI single to left by Will Gowdy.
West Alabama (6-5) cut the margin in the bottom of the fifth, but Ouachita answered in the top half of the sixth.
Brock Green doubled to begin the inning and took third on a fly out by Derek Dibbens. Chris Gordon singled to left to score Green, giving Ouachita a 4-1 lead.
However, West Alabama continued to keep the game close, cutting into the Tiger lead with a run in the bottom of the sixth and seventh.
Ouachita added a run in the ninth to extend the lead to 5-3.
Chase Baran (2-0) took the win by pitching 5 2/3 innings. He surrendered two runs (one earned) on three hits with six walks and six strikeouts. Jerry Helferich went 2 1/3 innings of relief as Lemmond came on in the ninth to earn the save.
Mike Schmitt (3-1) pitched seven innings in taking the loss for West Alabama. He was tagged for four runs on eight hits with two walks and three strikeouts. Dom Sapp and Brian Burgess pitched in relief.
The Tigers continue play at Tartt Field on Saturday, Feb. 21 with a pair of games as Ouachita starts the day with an 11:00 a.m. game against West Alabama, followed at 2:00 p.m., against St. Joseph’s. Both games will be available through live stats on the Ouachita Baptist University Athletic Web site at: www.obutigers.com.
