Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 SEARCY, ARK. – The East Central University softball team split the final day of the four-game series at Harding in Great American Conference action.  The Lady Tigers (14-11, 6-6 GAC) earned a 12-2 win in five innings in the opening game of the day and then fell 6-8.

ECU was paced by senior Gina Mengwasser, who hit .714 for the day.  Mengwasser garnered five hits, three RBIs and scored once.  Sophomore Jordynn VanPelt added a .667 average, with four hits, two runs and two RBIs.

Redshirt freshman Sydney Dow earned her second win of the season, starting in both games for the day and throwing a complete game in the opener.  Dow allowed six hits and six runs, while recording one strikeout.

Game 1 – ECU 12, Harding 2
The Lady Tigers came out swinging in the top of the first, scoring one run for an early lead.  Junior Chelsea Patterson led things off with a single and then stole second.  She was advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt.  Mengwasser earned the RBI with a single down the left field line.

ECU added a run in the top of the second for a 2-0 lead.  Junior Kaile Marcum started with a single and advanced to third with two stolen bases.  Marcum crossed the plate when freshman Nicole Nordie singled.

The Bisons cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the second for a 2-1 advantage.

However, the Lady Tigers responded in the top of the third with three runs for a 5-1 lead.  After the first out, Dow singled to left field and was sent to third on a double by sophomore Autumn Suydam.  The first two runs scored when Marcum followed with a triple down the left field line.  Sophomore Amanda Edmundson added an RBI with a single up the middle.

Harding added one more run in the bottom of the third for a 5-2 score.

ECU countered with a run in the top of the fourth for a 6-2 advantage.  Mengwasser singled up the middle and freshman Carlee Henderson pinch ran for Mengwasser.  Henderson advanced to second on a wild pitch and then to third on a sacrifice bunt by Dow.  Suydam earned the RBI when she ground out to short.

The Lady Tigers took control of the game in the top of the fifth, scoring six runs to put the run-rule into effect.  Edmundson started the inning with a walk and junior Lacey Williams went in to run.  Williams went to second on a wild pitch and then stole third.  Patterson was then walked and stole second.  Both runners then advanced on a pass ball for the first run of the inning.

Sophomore Leah Tigert drew a third walk to put runners on first and third.  Mengwasser added an RBI with a double and then three runs scored when Dow hit a home run to left field.  Suydam followed with a single and was sent home when VanPelt tripled to right for the 12-2 final.

Game 2 – Harding 8, ECU 6
ECU again took an early lead in the top of the first with a run.  Patterson hit a lead-off triple to right center and scored when Nordie doubled to left center.

Harding then took a 1-4 lead after four runs in the bottom of the first.

The Lady Tigers regained the advantage with four runs in the top of the second inning.  Junior Samantha McGraw started the inning with a double and scored when VanPelt singled.  Williams drew a walk and was advanced to second on a sacrifice but by Patterson.  Nordie loaded the bases with a walk.  That set up Mengwasser for and RBI with a single to left field.  Sophomore Lauren Reeves scored the final two runs with a single to right field for the 5-4 advantage.

ECU added a run in the top of the third for a 6-4 lead on singles from VanPelt, who stole both second and third, and Patterson.

The Lady Tigers held onto the lead until the bottom of the sixth, when the Bisons scored four runs for a 6-8 lead.  ECU continued to fight and had runners on first and second in the top of the seventh, but was unable to score.