Alva Review-Courier -

ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – The Ouachita Baptist softball team opened up the season on Friday afternoon with a pair of losses to Missouri S&T and Northeastern State.

GAME 1: Northeastern State 8-Ouachita Baptist 3

The Tigers threatened early in the bottom of the first inning. Gabby Gonzalez (Alice, Texas) hit a single up the middle to give the Tigers a bases loaded situation with only one out in the contest. On the very next play though Lexi Brooks hit into an inning ending 1-2-3 double play.

Not much action happened until the top of the fifth inning. What started out as a routine inning turned into a nightmare for the Tigers. With two outs in the inning Jessica Boone doubled to left center to keep the inning alive. Sierra Crick singled to left field, but the left fielder bobbled the ball and allowed Boone to score. As the ball bounced to the wall Crick advanced all the way to third base on the misplaced ball.

The two-out rally continued for the Nighthawks when Paige Gann stepped to the plate and smacked a two-run homer over the right field wall. The homerun put Northeastern State (2-0) up 3-0 with still only two outs in the inning.

Madison Boyd eventually popped out to second base to end the inning, but not before Kelsey Harmon tacked on another run with an RBI single. When the inning was finally over the Tigers found themselves down 4-0.

In the bottom of the sixth inning the Tigers offense began to come alive. Natalie Jackson (Mansfield, Texas) singled to left field and then advanced to second base on an error by the left fielder. Gonzalez was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second. Brooks stepped up to the plate and crushed an RBI double off the outfield wall to give the Tigers their first run of the game.

A few batters later the Ouachita (0-2) picked up their second run of the contest when Madison Crosby (Sheridan, Ark.) drew a two-out walk.

The Tigers appeared to have all of the momentum in the game as they retired the first two batters of the seventh inning. Then in a matter of moments it seemed Northeastern State had ripped out five hits while scoring four insurance runs.

Down 8-2 and heading into the final half inning of play the Tigers needed a comeback. With two outs in the inning Samantha Ortiz (North Richland Hills, Texas) hit an RBI single to left field. Jordan Fielder (Shreveport, La.) ended the game fly out to right field, stranding two runners in scoring position.

GAME 2: Missouri S&T 4-Ouachita Baptist 1

In the second game of the afternoon the Tigers offense looked to be alive early on. In the bottom of the second inning Brooks drew a one out walk. Fielder the next batter up smashed a double into the outfield to set Ouachita up with runners on second and third and only one out. Ortiz picked up her second RBI of the afternoon with a ground out to third base.

Ouachita held on to the one run lead until the top of the fourth inning. Monica Weiss singled to begin the inning and then stole second to put the Miners in scoring position. Two batters later Gretchen Egly hit an RBI single to tie the game at 1-1.

The game remained tied until the top of the sixth inning. Missouri S&T (1-1) was threatening with runners on second and third with two outs in the inning. Egly stepped up to the plate and crushed a three-run bomb to give her four RBI's on the afternoon.

Ouachita was unable to counter in either the sixth or seventh innings of the game.

The Tigers next game will be on Sunday afternoon when they take on Lincoln University at 1 p.m. and Christian Brothers University at 3 p.m.