Hunter, Batchelor duo spark in first season as teammates heading into GAC opener with OBU Tigers
Freshman Batchelor earns first collegiate career win in the pitcher’s circle
Area collegiate standouts—hannah Hunter of Malvern and Kodee Batchelor of Poyen have begun their debut season as college teammates with early season production for the Ouachita Baptist University Tigers softball program.
The Tigers have begun the 2023 softball season at 6-7 overall with a 2-4 home record and 0-2 on the road— while 4-1 at neutral sites.
Hunter and Batchelor both have grasped the opportunity for game action thus far for OBU.
According to the OBU sports information department, Batchelor, a freshman signee earned her first collegiate win in the pitcher’s circle when the Tigers swept a their double-header matchup against Southwest Baptist University. Batchelor came in for the relief and allowed just two runs and striking out three batters during a three and a third innings of work— leading OBU in a 10-7 victory in the second game of the match-up.
Batchelor, secures a 1-0 pitching record, and has only allowed 12 hits, nine runs (eight earned) and struck out eight batters in eight total innings pitched in her debut collegiate season.
In the frame, Batchelor has a .500 batting average, scoring one run with a hit and driving in a run for an RBI over a course of five games played.
The upperclassman and hometown standout [Hannah] Hunter, has pitched 10 total innings, with two starts and struck out five batters.
Hunter was one of three pitchers that threw against a tough defeat against the University of Central Missouri in a double-header match-up.
This weekend, OBU will begin Great American Conference softball and are set to play against the Bulldogs of Southwestern Oklahoma State for the conference opener at Sully Anderson field in Arkadelphia.
Ouachita Baptist University is picked to finish eighth in the GAC this season, which is one spot behind where the Tigers finished in 2022 with an overall record of 18-29 and a conference record of 14-19, noted by the GAC.