Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 SEARCY, ARK. – The East Central University softball team dropped two games to Harding in Great American Conference action at Harding Softball Field.  The Lady Tigers (13-10, 5-5 GAC) first fell 1-4 and then 2-8 on the first of two days of action.

ECU was led by junior Kaile Marcum, who hit .833 for the day, with five hits and two runs scored.  Junior Chelsea Patterson tallied a .500 average, with three hits and two RBIs.

Freshman Nicole Nordie suffered a loss in the circle, allowing five hits and four runs, but struck out six.

The teams will conclude the four-game GAC series, Sunday, March 9 starting at noon for a double-header.

Game 1 – Harding 4, ECU 1
The Bisons (13-8, 6-4 GAC) wasted no time taking a lead in the opening game, scoring a run in the bottom of the first inning.  Harding added two runs in the third and one in the fourth for a 0-4 lead.

The Lady Tigers scored their lone run of the game in the top of the fifth, when Nordie hit a solo home run for the 1-4 final.

Game 2- Harding 8, ECU 2
Harding was again the first to get on the scoreboard, taking a 0-3 advantage after the second, 0-4 after the third and 0-6 after the fourth.

ECU scored its first run in the top of the fifth, to cut the deficit to 1-6.  Marcum started the inning with a double to left center and advance to third when the next batter grounded out.  Junior Kayci Snider joined her on base with a single to the pitcher to put runners on the corners.  Marcum was sent home when Patterson hit a single down the left field line.

The Lady Tigers made the score 2-6 in the top of the sixth.  Sophomore Lauren Reeves, Marcum and junior Samantha McGraw all singled to load the bases after one out.  Snider hit into a fielder's choice that forced a runner out at home.  However, Patterson then hit a single to third base, which allowed a run to score.

The Bisons added two more runs in the bottom of the sixth for the 2-8 final.