After falling down 2-0, Ouachita exploded for four runs in the fourth inning to defeat No. 6 Central Missouri, 7-2, in a non-conference double header at Rab Rodgers Field on Tuesday.
Ouachita (7-5) defeated their second top-25 opponent of the season, after securing a season opening victory over then-No. 21 Angelo State, 4-3.
In Game 1, a late-inning home run lifted No. 6 Central Missouri (5-1) to a 4-2 victory over the Tigers.
The loss snapped a four-game winning streak for Ouachita.
Game 1: No. 6 Central Missouri 4, Ouachita 2
After both teams were tied 2-2 heading into the top of the sixth inning, a solo home run from Central Missouri’s Eric Cole proved to be the difference for the Mules.
Cole’s homer was hit to the edge of the left field foul pole, barely staying in for the go-ahead run for Central Missouri.
Ouachita couldn’t answer in their final two at-bats, and Central Missouri added a late run in the seventh, as Nick DeBiasse recorded his third hit of the game, driving in Bret Schwartz to give the Mules a 4-2 lead.
Ouachita junior Kolby Moore (1-2) went six innings on the mound for Ouachita, giving up three earned runs on seven hits, while striking out four.
Leading the Tigers at the plate was junior Kyle Zimmerman, who finished 2-for-3 with a run scored.
Ouachita only recorded five hits total, as senior Luke Hardcastle, junior Steve Mirizzi and freshman Landon Flax each recorded a hit each for the Tigers.
Central Missouri’s Alex Kent (2-0) took the victory on the mound, going three innings and only allowing one hit.
DeBiasse led the Mules at the plate with a 3-for-3 performance with 2 RBIs.
Game 2: Ouachita 7, No. 6 Central Missouri 2
Central Missouri took a 2-1 lead after the top of the fourth, but Ouachita answered with a four-run fourth inning, aided by four walks and a two-run double from junior Cass Via.
Freshman Landon Flax and Via combined for back-to-back singles after three Tigers led off the inning with walks.
Ouachita took a 5-2 lead after four innings of play, but would score again in the sixth.
After two straight outs by Ouachita at the plate, senior Will Gowdy slammed his second home run of the year, a solo shot to left field that easily cleared the fence at Rab Rodgers Field.
After Gowdy’s shot, sophomore Brock Green reached on a single to right field, scoring two batters later on an RBI single from senior Drew Baker to set the final score at 7-2.
Ouachita junior Taylor Riggs (1-0) earned the victory in relief of starter Taylor Henry.
Riggs went three innings in shutout relief on the mound, while allowing just three hits.
Henry lasted four innings for the Tigers, while giving up a pair of earned runs on four hits.
The Tigers collected 10 hits as team in Game 2, led by Green who recorded a 3-for-4 afternoon at the plate.
Via finished with 2 RBIs on a 1-for-4 performance, while Zimmerman scored a pair of runs and went 1-for-3.
Central Missouri used six different pitchers in the loss, as Chris Fitzpatrick (0-1) earned the loss for the Mules.
Fitzpatrick gave up a pair of runs after not recording an out for Central Missouri.
Ouachita returns to Rab Rodgers Field to face Arkansas-Fort Smith for a four-game series that begins on Saturday, Feb. 27 at 1 p.m.
By Alan Greenwood, Sports Information Director
