Warriors provide hard fought efforts in tough losses to Dierks, Parkers Chapel
In two competitive non-conference baseball match-ups this week, the Ouachita Warriors provided a challenge on the diamond but fell in defeat to the Dierks Outlaws 7-2 at home, then on the road to the Parkers Chapel Trojans 11-1.
Ouachita baseball head coach Anthony Nail thought his Warriors brought a competitive edge to the diamond against two traditionally winning baseball programs in higher classifications. Nail knows that the Warriors facing these top programs will contribute to Ouachita’s overall team performance during the postseason.
“I feel okay about our performance in the games against Dierks and Parkers Chapel. We cut down on the self-inflicted mistakes, which has been a big area of focus for us lately. Getting beat by a good team is more manageable when you take care of the things that you can control,” Nail said.
“When we start facing more conference and regional opponents over the next few weeks, we’ll see the dividends of the work we’ve been putting in by facing tough 2A and 3A competition,” he added.
Warriors 2, Dierks Outlaws 7
Monday at Warrior Field the Warriors kept a close battle through the fourth inning, but the Outlaws turned things around in their favor by scoring three runs in the fifth, one run in the sixth and two runs in the seventh innings. The Warriors were held scoreless in the first, second, third, fifth and sixth innings—but accounted for a run in the fourth and seventh innings, unfortunately to take a five-run loss to Dierks.
Ouachita tallied two runs on three hits while the Outlaws collected six hits to win the batting battle at the plate with their seven runs.
Offensively for the Warriors, Kelton Fowler and Barret Ashby led Ouachita at the plate with a hit apiece. Bradley Abernathy and Jayden Alston each drove in runs for an RBI and Kaden Fulmer and Caleb Force each scored a run apiece. For key base running, Alston, Ashby, Force and Caden Lee each had a stolen base.
On the mound, three Warriors provided productive pitching against the Outlaws. Colton Braswell pitched three innings, allowed two hits, three earned runs, three walks struck out two batters and threw 24 strikes. Fulmer pitched two innings, allowed two hits, one run, one walk, struck out two batters and threw 19 strikes. Keith Miller pitched two innings, allowed two hits, one run and two earned runs, two walks, struck out two batters and threw 24 strikes to heat up the strikes zone across the plate.
Warriors 1, Parkers Chapel 11
For the second time this season the Warriors would face Parkers Chapel aiming to avenge the first meeting defeat at Warrior Field on their home territory Tuesday. Once again, the Trojans were a tough opponent and secured a 11-1 victory against the Warriors through six innings of baseball competition. The Warriors collected their lone run in the top of third inning to trail Parkers Chapel 4-1. But in the bottom of the third, the Trojans pushed out their lead with five runs scored and had an eight-run advantage over the Warriors 9-1.
While the fourth inning was scoreless, the Warriors fell short to capitalize on rallying in the fifth and sixth innings. The Trojans added a run in the fifth and sixth innings to pull off the 10-run victory. Ouachita tallied a run on six hits while the Trojans sparked with 11 runs on 11 hits to post in double-digits during their second non-conference encounter against Ouachita.
Offensively, the Warriors’ Fulmer led at the plate with three hits. Miller, Abernathy and Braswell each collected a hit. Miller scored the lone run for the Warriors and Abernathy drove in the run for an RBI. Miller also had a stolen base.
On the mound, Fowler pitched two and two-thirds innings, allowing four hits, eight runs, four walks, and threw 21 strikes. Brady Huneycutt pitched two and onethirds innings, allowed seven hits, three earned runs, two walks, struck out one batter and threw 27 strikes.