Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 SAN ANGELO, TEXAS – The East Central University softball team picked up two wins in the opening day of the George McCorkle Tournament hosted by Angelo State.  The Lady Tigers (3-3) first earned a 6-2 win over Texas A&M International and then defeated host Angelo State, 2-0.

ECU earned the wins on game-winning home runs in each game by sophomore Jordynn VanPelt.  VanPelt tallied a .400 batting average for the day, with two hits, two runs and five RBIs.  Sophomore Autumn Suydam led the team with a .500 average, on three hits and two runs.

"Shutting out a team like Angelo State is tough to do," said head coach Destini Anderson.  "Defensively we did a great job of backing up our pitchers.  VanPelt came through for us in the top of the seventh with a two run home run.  But it was a complete team effort today."

Sophomore Lacey Paulk and junior Brianna Nunley each picked up a win in the circle.  Nunley had a 0.00 ERA in a complete game.  She allowed five hits, zero runs and struck out two batters.  Paulk threw five innings, allowed four hits, two runs and struck out seven.

"I like what I saw today in the circle," said Anderson.  "Lacey Paulk started against a good hitting Texas A&M International team and did very well.  We brought Nicole Nordie and she shut them down the last two innings.  Nunley had an impressive day in the circle as well."

The Lady Tigers will play two more games in the tournament, Sunday, Feb. 9.  ECU will first face Drury at 10:30 a.m. and then battle with Angelo State again at 12:45 p.m.

Game 1 – ECU 6, Texas A&M International 2
The Dust Devils were the first to strike, scoring two runs in the bottom of the first inning.

The Lady Tigers responded in the top of the second with five runs.  Sophomore Amanda Edmundson started the inning off by drawing a walk.  She was moved to third when Suydam hit a double down the left field line.

VanPelt then stepped to the plate and hit a three-run home run over the top of the scoreboard in center field for the first three runs of the game.

Junior Kaile Marcum then hit a single up the middle and was sent to third when junior Chelsea Patterson hit a sacrifice bunt that put her on first with a throwing error.  Patterson then stole second, which set up sophomore Leah Tigert for an RBI when she singled to left field.  Junior Samantha McGraw added the final run when she reached on a fielder's choice.

The Lady Tigers added a sixth run in the top of the third when senior Gina Mengwasser hit a solo home run to right field, for a 6-2 lead.

Both teams then held each other scoreless for the rest of the game.

Game 2 – ECU 2, Angelo State 0
The second game of the day was a defensive battle with both teams holding each other scoreless until the seventh inning.

ECU started things off in the seventh when Suydam hit a single up the middle, with one out, and then stole second.  VanPelt then sent a shot over the left field fence for two runs.

The Rambelles started the bottom of the seventh with a single and then recorded two outs.  The first was a fly out to center and the second was to get the lead runner out at second on a fielder's choice.  That left one runner on first, but the next batter flew out to left field.