ARKADELPHIA, Ark. — Ouachita Baptist used a pair of late-inning rallies to pull away from Harding University, defeating the Bisons 12-2 in a non-conference matchup on Tuesday afternoon at Rab Rodgers Field.
The Tigers (17-16) broke the game open with a five-run sixth inning and added three more in the seventh to end the contest early via the run rule. Harding (17-15) struggled to find its rhythm offensively, finishing with four hits and leaving seven runners on base.
Ouachita Baptist jumped out to an immediate lead in the first inning against Harding starter Ricky Howell (0-4). After a leadoff single and a hit batter, Jaren Ceasar drove in a run with a single to right. Joseph Bolin followed with a two-run double, and Kyndall Cassidy added a sacrifice fly to stake the Tigers to a 4-0 lead before the Bisons could record two outs.
Harding's bullpen provided stability in the middle innings. CJ Ricaurte entered in the first and tossed 3.1 innings of scoreless relief, allowing only one hit and striking out two.
The Bisons mounted a comeback attempt in the fifth. Jack Opoien ignited the rally with a leadoff double to left, followed by a walk to Bo Solley and a walk to Nathan Bowie to load the bases. Logan Lacey was hit by a pitch to reach base in his 32nd straight game and force in Opoien, and Cooper Newsom later reached on a fielder's choice that scored Solley, cutting the deficit to 4-2.
However, the Tigers responded in the bottom of the sixth. After loading the bases against Caleb Oligschlaeger, Octavio Mendivil delivered a two-run single to highlight a five-run frame that pushed the lead to 9-2.
The Tigers ended the game in the bottom of the seventh. Ceasar and Bolin each drove in runs with singles before Reece McWilliams ended the contest with an RBI single up the middle that scored Ceasar.
Opoien led the Bisons with a double and a run scored, while Phoenix West reached base twice with a single and a walk. Ouachita Baptist's Jaren Ceasar finished 3-for-3 with three RBIs and three runs scored to lead the Tigers.
Jarrett Waggoner (3-1) earned the win in relief for Ouachita, throwing one inning of hitless ball.
Harding returns to Great American Conference play this Thursday and Friday when it hosts Southern Arkansas at Jerry Moore Field.
