Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – The East Central University softball team fell in the opening game of the 2014 season to Texas A&M International (1-7), but then rebounded with a win against St. Mary's (5-2), who received votes in the preseason NFCA Coaches Poll.

The Lady Tigers (1-1) were led by sophomore Sydney Dow, with three hits, one run and an RBI.  Dow garnered a double and a home run in two starts for ECU.  Sophomore Leah Tigert added two hits and two RBIs, include a game-tying home run against the Rattlers.

Sophomore Lacey Paulk earned the win for the Lady Tigers in the circle, with a complete game.  Paulk allowed seven hits and two runs, while striking out nine batters.

"We came out flat in the first game, but I was really proud of the way we responded in game two," said head coach Destini Anderson.  "St. Mary's is a good team that is already receiving votes in the national polls.  As a team we did a lot of things right today, but we also saw some things we need to work on."

ECU hit .404 as a team, with 11 hits and six RBIs.  The Lady Tigers allowed a .389 batting average, with 14 hits and eight RBIs.

ECU will remain in San Antonio for the final day of the St. Mary's Classic, Sunday, Feb. 2 when they face St. Edward's (10 a.m.) and Texas A&M Kingsville (Noon).

Game 2 – ECU 5, St. Mary's 2
In the second game of the day, the opening four innings were all about defense, as both teams held each other scoreless until the bottom of the fifth when St. Mary's garnered two runs.

In the top of the sixth, the Lady Tigers bats came alive.  Sophomore Autumn Suydam started the inning with a single back at the pitcher and was sent around when Tigert hit a home run down the right field line in the next at-bat to tie the game at two.

"Leah Tigert came up with a big home run for us late in the game," added Anderson.  "And Lacey Paulk had a great game in the circle."

Junior Lauren Reeves was put on base after being hit by a pitch as the next batter and advanced to second on a bunt single by junior Samantha McGraw.  Senior Gina Mengwasser sent them both up a base on a sacrifice bunt.  The bases were then loaded on an intentional walk of Dow.

After the second out of the inning was recorded, sophomore Jordynn VanPelt added the game-winning run on a single up the middle.  Sophomore Amanda Edmundson added the final two runs of the game on a single for the 5-2 win.

Game 1 – Texas A&M International 7, ECU 1
The Lady Tigers struggled in the opening game of the year, allowing the Dust Devils to score first, with five runs in the third.

Dow scored the lone run for ECU in the fifth inning with a home run down the left field line.

TAMI added two more runs in the bottom of the fifth for the 1-7 final.