ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – The 13
th-ranked St. Edward's Baseball team opened the season with a tough 6-4 loss to Ouachita Baptist Saturday afternoon at Rab Rodgers Field.
Ouachita Baptist (1-0) started the scoring off early as leadoff man Parker Norris started the inning off with a triple off of Hilltopper starter
COLLIN SHERROD. Norris would come around to score via a Jace Melby single to give Ouachita a 1-0 lead.
The Tigers came away with another triple in the third off the bat of Rueben Miller that scored Drew Feuerbacher. The Hilltoppers responded in the top of the fourth with a two-out rally.
GABLE WHITACRE and J.D. Arrowood each walked before
JOSEPH OLSON scorched a single to left field to make the score 2-1.
KEVIN MAYO tied it up with a double off the left field wall to score Arrowood, and tie the game, 2-2.
Ouachita Baptist responded in the bottom half of the inning by loading up the bases with two outs. A passed ball allowed the Tigers to grab the lead 3-2.
Not to be out done,
CUTTER RUNTE ripped a triple down the right field line that brought A.J. Hermanson around to score in the fifth inning. Immediately after, Whitacre hit a high chopper to third base and the third baseman's throw skipped past the first baseman, allowing the Hilltoppers to take a 4-3 lead.
The Hilltoppers would be unable to hold the lead as the Tigers came roaring back with three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning.
VITO LORENZINI entered the game for Sherrod and was quickly met with a double, walk and a sacrifice bunt to start the inning. Tyler Faught ripped a single that skipped up the middle and both runners came home. The Tigers added a double to bring Faught home and shut the Hilltoppers down 1-2-3 in the ninth to come away with a 6-4 victory.
COLLIN SHERROD finished the day pitching seven innings and giving up three runs with two earned while compiling 10 strikeouts. Lorenzini took the loss after throwing an inning and giving up three runs on three hits with a strikeout.
The Hilltoppers will look to bounce back tomorrow afternoon at noon, as they will once again take on Ouachita Baptist in a doubleheader. Live stats will be available on the Tiger Athletic Website.
