FROM PRESS RELEASE
ARKADELPHIA – The 24th-ranked Ouachita Baptist baseball team rallied to win the opening game 3-2, but dropped the second contest, 9-0, against No. 2 Southern Arkansas Saturday afternoon at Rab Rodgers Field to force a series deciding game Sunday.
After a scoreless first inning in the opener, Ouachita Baptist (38-11 overall, 9-7 GSC West) broke the tie by plating a run on two hits in the bottom of the second inning.
Rudy Jovanovski off the frame with a base hit to right and moved to second on a Destan Makonnen ground out to second. Jovanovski scored when Chad Taylor singled up the middle to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead.
Southern Arkansas finally got on the board in the top of the sixth.
Cannon Lester led the frame off with a solo homer to left center, tying the game at 1. Tom Dellwo reached on an infield single and with one out, stole second. John Long knocked Dellwo in with a base hit to left center, giving the Muleriders a 2-1 lead.
Southern Arkansas (38-6, 16-1) threatened in the top of the seventh by loading the bases with two outs, but Dellwo flied out to left to end the inning.
The Tigers refused to go quietly as Ouachita Baptist rallied with a pair of runs on three hits to grab a 3-2 lead.
Blake Lockwood led off the eighth with a single up the middle and advanced to third on a one-out base hit down the right field line by Jim Streicher. Jovanovski reached on an error by the second baseman, allowing Lockwood to score the tying run. Makonnen reached on a fielder’s choice. Taylor, who was 2-for-4, ripped a base hit to left center, scoring Streicher, giving Ouachita Baptist a 3-2 advantage.
Steve Smith worked 6 2/3 innings, giving up two runs on six hits with four walks and seven strikeouts. Jerry Helferich pitched 1/3 of an inning in relief with a walk. Sean O’Rourke (4-1) earned the win by working two innings with a walk and a strikeout.
Cody Jones pitched 6 2/3 innings, surrendering a run on four hits with a walk and a pair of strikeouts. Jeremy Jenkins (7-3) worked 1 1/3 innings of relief. He was tagged for two runs (one earned) on three hits with a strikeout.
In the second contest, Ouachita Baptist threatened in the bottom of the fourth, but came away empty handed.
Jovanovski doubled to right center with one out and Makonnen doubled to center to put runners on second and third. But Taylor struck out swinging and Chandler Boyce flied out to right to end the inning.
Southern Arkansas loaded the bases on three straight hits to center to begin the fifth and then Dellwo drew a four-pitch walk to bring in the first run with no outs. A sacrifice fly brought another run in as the Muleriders led 2-0.
The Muleriders added to the margin in the sixth by placing seven runs on seven hits to grab a 9-0 advantage.
Chase Baran (8-2) started for the Tigers, pitching 5 1/3 innings. He gave up four runs on nine hits with three walks and six strikeouts. Alex Smith worked 1/3 of an inning in relief, giving up three runs on two hits with a walk. Reece Dodd was tagged for two runs on four hits in 1 1/3 innings of relief.
Aaron Terry (6-0) worked a complete-game, five-hitter with four strikeouts to pick up the victory for Southern Arkansas.
Ouachita Baptist concludes the three-game series 1:00 p.m., Sunday, April 20 against Southern Arkansas during Senior Day at Rab Rodgers Field. The game will be available to listen to on the Ouachita Baptist athletic Web site at: www.obutigers.com.
