Box Score ADA – The East Central University baseball team earned its fifth series win in Great American Conference action with a 5-1 win over No. 4/5 Southern Arkansas at Tiger Field.

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The Tigers (22-15, 11-10 GAC) were led by juniors Luc Pomales and Nick Spini, who each garnered multiple hits.  Pomales added three hits to his season total, with one RBI and one run scored.  Spini tallied two hits and scored once.

Senior Robert Buitrago earned the win on the mound, throwing the first six innings.  Buitrago allowed one hit and zero runs, while striking out one.

The teams went through the first four innings with a run crossing the plate.  The Muleriders (29-10, 15-9 GAC) had a good chance to score in the top of the fourth, with the bases loaded and just one out.  However, Spini caught a fly ball in right field and then fired a shot down to third base to throw out the runner for a double play.

The Tigers took the momentum from that play and scored in the bottom of the fifth inning to take a 3-0 lead.  After the first out Pomales hit a double to right field and scored when junior Andrew Ayrado hit a single to left.  Junior Ty Huie then hit a triple to left field to score Ayrado.  Huie was able to score on the play himself when the left fielder committed an error.

ECU added two runs in the sixth.  Spini led off with a single and was advanced to second with a sacrifice bunt by junior Bryce McKee.  Senior Ethan Gold earned the first RBI with a double to left center and Pomales added the second with a double down the left field line.

The Muleriders again had a good chance to score in the top of the seventh with the bases loaded and one out.  However, junior Oscar Gomez struck out the next two batters to end the threat.
SAU was able to get a run in the top of the eight to cut the lead to 5-1, but that was all that the Tigers allowed for the game.

The Tigers will continue their home stand with a game, Tuesday, April 8 at 3 p.m. against Texas Wesleyan.