Box Score ALVA, OKLA. – The East Central University baseball team earned a 5-4 win over Northwestern Oklahoma State in the opening game of the three-game Great American Conference series.

Box Score

The Tigers (2518, 14-11 GAC) were led by junior Nick Spini, who tallied three hits, two runs, two RBIs and the game winning home run in the top of the seventh.  Senior Michael Mariano and junior Bryce McKee also added two hits.

Junior Lucas Kaplan started the game on the mound for ECU, going seven innings and striking out five.  Juniors Oscar Gomez and Merrick Ardoin then threw an inning each, with Ardoin earning the win and striking out two.

The Tigers came out ready to fight, scoring three runs in the top of the first inning.  Senior Josh Lavender started the game with a single up the middle and was advanced to second when Mariano earned a bunt single.  Spini reached on an error, while going for a sacrifice bunt, to load the bases.  McKee then earned the first RBI by drawing a walk and keep the bases loaded.

Junior Luc Pomales added an RBI when he hit into a fielder's choice that allowed Mariano to score.  Senior Ethan Gold earned the final RBI when he grounded out to first.

The Rangers (20-23, 5-20 GAC) started a come-back in the second inning, scoring two runs.  NWOSU tied the game at three with a run in the fourth and took a 3-4 advantage with a run in the fifth.

ECU trailed until the top of the seventh.  Mariano garnered a single to left field and junior Casey Kenny went into to run for him.  A batter later, Spini hit his third home run of the season to left center to give the Tigers a 5-4 lead.

The Rangers got a runner to third in the eighth inning, but were unable to score the run to tie the game and then went three-up; three-down in the ninth for the 5-4 ECU win.

The teams will finish the series Saturday, April 19 with a double-header scheduled to start at 1 p.m.