ADA – The East Central University softball dropped two games to No. 2 Southern Arkansas in Great American Conference action at Tiger Field. The Tigers (9-7, 0-4 GAC) fell 3-4 in 10 innings in game one and then 0-10 in five innings in the final game of the series.
ECU was paced by sophomore Mariah Ewy, with a .750 average, three hits and one run. Junior Alissa Taylor added a .429 mark, with three hits, one home run, an RBI and a run scored.
Freshman Sierra Skaggs started the opening game of the day, throwing 3.0 innings, with two strike outs. Freshman Lindsay Wade finished the game with two Ks to her credit. Senior Kelbie Crelia suffered the loss in game two, while striking out one in 2.2 innings of work.
The Tigers will now get ready for a league series against Southwestern, March 3-4 at Tiger Field. Double-headers are set for each day, starting at 1 p.m. Friday and noon Saturday.
Southern Arkansas 4, East Central 3 (10)
The Tigers struck first, when Taylor hit a solo home run in the bottom of the first inning.
It took until the third for the Muleriders (14-2, 4-0 GAC) to tie the game at one. SAU then added to more runs for a 1-3 advantage in the fourth.
The Muleriders held the lead until the bottom of the seventh, when ECU was able to knot the game at three. Freshman Nikki Herrin was hit by a pitch to start the inning and Ewy followed with a single. Freshman Catherine Barrera then sent the runners to second and third on sacrifice bunt, which allowed freshman Jaclyn Willis to earn two RBIs with a single to left center.
The teams then played strong defense until the Muleriders were able to gain the lead with a home run in the top of the 10th. The Tigers then went three-up three-down in the bottom of the inning.
Southern Arkansas 10, East Central 0 (5)
ECU struggled to produce offense in the second game, garnering just three hits, while SAU tallied seven.
The Muleriders scored two runs in the first and then added six in the third and a run in the fourth and fifth for the 0-10 final.
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