Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 ADA – The East Central University softball team split the final day of the Great American Conference series with Northwestern Oklahoma State at Lady Tiger Field.  The Lady Tigers (29-22, 19-17) earned a 6-4 win in the opening game before falling 7-8 in the final.

ECU was paced by sophomore Jordynn VanPelt, who tallied two home runs, three hits, two runs and five RBIs on the day for a .429 batting average.  Senior Gina Mengwasser added three hits, a home run, one run and five RBIs for a .500 average.

Freshman Nicole Nordie went 1-1 in the circle for the day, throwing three total innings over two games.  She struck out three batters and allowed four runs but no hits.  Redshirt freshman Sydney Dow added seven strikeouts in 7.2 innings.

The Lady Tigers will now have the week to prepare for the final series of the 2014 regular-season, April 25-26 when they host Ouachita Baptist.  The double headers are scheduled to start at 2 p.m. Friday, April 25 and noon, Saturday, April 26.  Saturday's game will be the annual Senior Day where ECU will honor its two seniors; Gina Mengwasser and Tarra Underhill-Christy.

Game 1 – ECU 6, NWOSU 4
The Rangers (35-15, 23-11 GAC) took an early lead in the opening game, scoring a run in the first, second and fourth innings for a 0-3 advantage.

Mengwasser scored the first run of the game for the Lady Tigers with a solo home run to left center in the fourth.

ECU then gained the lead in the bottom of the fifth, on three runs for a 4-3 advantage.  Sophomore Autumn Suydam started the inning with a walk, junior Samantha McGraw reach on an error and sophomore Lauren Reeves hit a single to load the bases.

Sophomore Leah Tigert hit into a fielder's choice that put the runner out going to home, but it kept the bases loaded.  That allowed Mengwasser to earn three RBIs with a double to right field.

The Lady Tigers added to their lead in the bottom of the sixth, going up 6-3.  VanPelt hit her first home run of the day after one out.  Suydam kept things going with a single.  McGraw singled and Marcum reached on an error to load the bases.  Reeves earned the second RBI with a single to center.

NWOSU tried to come back in the top of the seventh, earning one run to cut the deficit to 6-4.  The Rangers had the bases loaded after the first run, but the next batter struck out swinging to end the game.

Game 2 – NWOSU 8, ECU 6
ECU took an early 1-0 lead after the first inning.  Marcum doubled and after an out Mengwasser followed with a single to earn the RBI.

NWOSU took the lead in the second, scoring two runs for a 1-2 score.

The Lady Tigers regained the advantage with four runs in the bottom of the third.  Marcum singled and Reeves walked.  After both runners earned a stolen base, Tigert sent the first run home with a double.  VanPelt scored the other three runs with her second home run of the day.

The Rangers then gained the lead back with six runs in the top of the fourth inning, 5-8.

ECU cut the deficit to two in the fourth.  Junior Kayci Snider and Marcum were walked and advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Reeves.  Snider was then able to score on a wild pitch.

The Lady Tigers then cut the disadvantage to 7-8 with a run in the bottom of the sixth.  Marcum was walked to start the inning and advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Reeves.  Tigert sent her to third with a single and VanPelt earned the RBI with a single to short.

However, that was how the scoring would end and NWOSU earned the 7-8 win.