Alva Review-Courier -

ADA – After splitting the final two games of the Great American Conference series with Oklahoma Baptist, the East Central University softball team took the series 3-1 and moved up to seventh in the GAC standings. The Tigers (20-24, 15-19 GAC) fell in the opening game of the day 9-3, before rebounding to earn a 16-8 win in six innings in the finale.

Both teams had strong performances at the plate, with ECU hitting .415 as a team and the Bison (15-24, 12-19 GAC) netting a .400 average. The Tigers saw six players hit .500-or-better, with four hitting over .600 and two with a 1.000 average in single game appearances.

Freshman Jacey Henry had another strong day at the plate, with a .625 average, five hits, two runs and two RBIs. Senior Claresha Clemons led the team with four RBIs after a .429 average, three hits, three runs, a double and a home run.

Henry also picked up the win in the circle, throwing the last 2.2 innings of game two. She allowed eight hits and five runs, while striking out two.

The Tigers will be in action again in just a few days, as they will play the final GAC doubleheader of the season against arch rival Southeastern Oklahoma State, Tuesday, April 17 at Tiger Field, starting at 2 p.m.

ECU 16, OBU 8 (6)

Both teams held each other scoreless through the first three innings of the second game, before they combined for 16 runs in the fourth. The Bison started the scoring with eight runs in the top of the inning, before ECU tied things up at eight in the bottom.

The Tigers runs came on singles from junior Ellanee Allison, Henry and junior Chloe Wigington, a walk from Ewy, two-run double by senior Allison Taylor, one-run double by Clemons, a foul out that scored a run and a one-run double by junior Bridgett Gleason.

While ECU held OBU scoreless for the rest of the game, they took control of the game in the fifth. The Tigers got a two-run lead (10-8) after Taylor led off with a single and was sent around when Clemons hit her home run to right field.

ECU then pushed the tempo and forced the run-rule into effect with six runs in the sixth for the 16-8 final. The runs came on two walks, an error and six singles, with just two outs recorded.

OBU 9, ECU 3

The Bison took control of the game early, netting three runs in the top of the first inning. The Tigers cut the deficit to one in the third (3-2).

Junior Aundrea Hamric, Taylor and Henry all singled to load the bases. That allowed Clemons to earn an RBI with a sacrifice fly to center. The bases were then reloaded when Allison walked and the second run of the inning scored when Wigington followed with a walk.

ECU then tied the game at three in the sixth, on a solo home run by freshman Angel Stoker.

However, the Bison responded by scoring six innings in the top of the seventh to earn a 9-3 lead.

The Tigers started the seventh with a double from Henry, but they were unable to get the run home for the 9-3 final.