OBU Heads to Arkansas for Clash at Ouachita

SHAWNEE – Oklahoma Baptist will travel to Arkansas to open a three-game conference series against Ouachita Baptist tomorrow evening.

Friday's opener is scheduled to start at 8 p.m. and will be played at Henderson State's Dee White Field across the street from the campus of Ouachita Baptist. The series will conclude with a doubleheader on Saturday, set to begin at 4 p.m. at OUA's Langston Field.

Field changes had to be made due to heavy rain in the natural state this week. If field conditions at Langston Field are deemed unplayable on Saturday, the games will occur at Henderson's field starting at 6 p.m.

Live stats will be available for all three games this weekend. Live streaming will be available only for games at the Tigers' home field.

The Bison hold a 16-15 all-time series lead versus OUA, including a 9-8 record in Arkadelphia. OBU has beaten the Tigers six consecutive times, spanning back to the 2022 season.

OBU split its midweek twinbill at Southern Nazarene on Tuesday, besting the Crimson Storm 10-7 in eight innings before falling 3-2 in the finale. Despite the loss, Oklahoma Baptist clinched the series two games to one with its 10-0, five-inning triumph on March 12.

The green and gold have won 16 straight conference series, the longest streak in program history. They sit atop the league with a 21-3 GAC mark and a 29-11 overall record.

The OBU offense has found their groove lately, as they've hit .349 and outscored opponents 65-15 over the last eight games. Four players' batting averages jumped off the stat sheet during the span: Morgan Max (.500), Adi Reese (.480), Ally Ryan (.455), and Emily Adler (.440).

Reese led the quartet with 12 hits, while Ryan turned in five home runs and 11 RBI. Adler added 13 runs scored and Max racked up 11 hits and knocked two homers.

Ryan was named the Louisville Slugger/NFCA and GAC player of the week after producing four home runs, eight RBI, and a .556 batting average last weekend against Southwestern Oklahoma Baptist. In game two of the series, Ryan registered her second game of the season with two home runs.

Reese and Max were also spectacular at the plate, combining for 14 hits. Reese hit .818 (9-for-11), slugged 1.273, and stole a couple of bases, while Max tallied five RBI with a .625 average.

There was just as much dominance in the circle during the eight-game span, too. OBU charted a 1.40 ERA and limited opposing batters to a .203 batting average. Kayleigh Jones added four wins to her season tally, while Maggie Place posted a 3-1 record.

SCOUTING THE TIGERS

Ouachita Baptist owns a 10-31 overall record and 5-19 GAC tally after falling 3-1 to long-time rival Henderson State this evening. The Tigers are last in the conference standings.

OUA have been outscored 281-126 this season and carry the second-worst batting average in the league (.242). In the pitching lane, their staff has produced an ERA of 5.78 and has allowed 33 hits in the last four games.

Senior infielder Erin Williams has been a bright spot for Ouachita, as her .350 average, 43 hits, and seven home runs pace the team. Lauren Lester and Remington Adams trail with 33 and 32 hits, respectively.

Pitcher Hannah Hunter leads the OUA bullpen with a 5-13 record across 104.1 innings of work. She owns a 6.44 ERA and has struck out 59 batters. Tuesday Melton has produced a 5.20 earned run average, 31 punchouts, and a 3-10 record in 68.2 innings.

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Players Mentioned

#1 Emily Adler: INF; 5' 6"; Fifth Year; L/R

#25 Kayleigh Jones: P; 5' 10"; Fifth Year; R/R

#24 Morgan Max: P/UTL; 5' 6"; Junior; L/L

#6 Adi Reese: INF; 5' 4"; Fifth Year; R/R

#13 Ally Ryan: INF; 5' 9"; Sophomore; R/R

#19 Maggie Place: P; 5' 10"; Freshman; R/R

Players Mentioned

#1 Emily Adler
: 5' 6"; Fifth Year; L/R
: INF

#25 Kayleigh Jones
: 5' 10"; Fifth Year; R/R
: P

#24 Morgan Max
: 5' 6"; Junior; L/L
: P/UTL

#6 Adi Reese
: 5' 4"; Fifth Year; R/R
: INF

#13 Ally Ryan
: 5' 9"; Sophomore; R/R
: INF

#19 Maggie Place
: 5' 10"; Freshman; R/R
: P