MONTICELLO – The University of Arkansas at Monticello baseball suffered a 17-4 run-rule loss to Ouachita Baptist on Sunday, giving OBU a 2-1 series victory.
 
With the loss, UAM drops to 7-27-1 overall and 1-8 in GSC games, while OBU improves to 28-14 overall and 5-7 in the GSC.
 
OBU used an eight-run fourth inning, highlighted by Kevin Bird’s three-run homerun to gain a sizeable lead. It was OBU’s seven-run sixth inning that gave the Tigers enough runs for the 10-run rule to take effect, ending the game after seven innings.
 
Junior Blaine Ivey opened UAM’s scoring with his sixth homerun of the season, a solo shot to dead center in the bottom of the fourth inning.
 
UAM scored its other three runs in the bottom of the sixth, highlighted by freshman Tyler Williams’ two-RBI single up the middle. Junior Tyler Henry was responsible for the other run with an RBI-single to center field earlier in the inning.
 
Freshman Craig Pellegrin (2-2) took the loss after allowing only one run off four hits in his one and one third innings of work. Since UAM never tied or gained the lead, the one run Pellegrin allowed was enough for him to be saddled with the loss.
 
OBU’s Jarod Hershberger (5-0) kept his perfect record intact after throwing a complete-game, allowing four runs off 11 hits in his seven innings of work.
 
With the upcoming Easter holiday, next weekend’s series at No. 24 Delta State is scheduled differently than normal. The two teams will play a single nine-inning game on Friday, April 10 at 6:30 p.m. and a double-header on Saturday starting at 2 p.m.