ADA – The East Central University baseball team moved to 9-3 overall and 5-0 in the Great American Conference standings with 10-8 and 7-1 wins over Northwestern Oklahoma State at Ken Turner Field.

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The Tigers were paced by junior Gavin Susca, who went five-for-five at the plate for a 1.000 batting average.  Susca tallied three doubles and added two RBIs.  Senior Nick Spini hit .714 for the day, with five hits, three doubles and a team-high four RBIs.

Senior Cam McKay continued his strong performance on the mound, earning his second complete-game win of the season.  McKay allowed just two hits and one run, while striking out five in the 7-1 win.  Senior Lucas Kaplan started the opening game and went 5.2 innings, with six strikeouts.  Junior Casey Kenney finished the final 2.1 innings of work and earned the win, with three Ks and zero hits and runs allowed.

The Tigers and the Rangers (6-6, 1-4 GAC) will wrap up the series, Saturday, Feb. 21 at noon at Ken Turner Field.

Game 1 – ECU 10, NWOSU 8
The Tigers took a quick 1-0 lead after the first inning on a walk by senior Ty Huie and a double from senior Luc Pomales.

However, the Rangers countered with two runs in both the second and third innings to take a 1-4 lead.

ECU cut the disadvantage in half in the third, 2-4.  Huie doubled to left field and after two outs were recorded was sent home on a single from Spini to center.

The Tigers cut the lead to just one an inning later on a triple from senior Casey Chenoweth and a single from Susca.

ECU took back the lead in the bottom of the fifth, after a five-run inning.  Spini started the rally with a one-out double, senior Bryce McKee singled and the first run was scored on a fielder's choice by senior Garrett Donohoe.  Senior Cale Russell followed with a double to left center, leaving two runners on when Chenoweth hit a shot over the left field fence. Susca kept the inning going with a single, followed by a single by Huie.  The final run of the inning was scored on a balk to give the Tigers an 8-4 lead.

NWOSU quickly tied the game in the top of the sixth, with four runs of its own and an 8-8 tie.

After the first out of the bottom of the sixth, Spini drew a walk and helped McKee earn the game-winning RBIs with a home run to left field and a 10-8 score.

The Tiger defense then held on in the top of the ninth, as the Rangers had two runners in scoring position after two walks, but a final strikeout ended the game.

Game 2 – ECU 7, NWOSU 1
The first two innings went by without a run across the plate in the night cap of the day.  The Tigers were the first to break the stalemate, with two runs in the bottom of the third, starting a run of six-straight scoring innings for ECU.

Huie reached on a fielder's choice and after the second out of the winning was joined on base by Pomales who walked.  Both runners advanced on a wild pitch, allowing Spini to score both with a double to right center.

The Tigers made it 3-0 in the bottom of the fourth with doubles from Donohoe and Susca.  ECU then added two more runs in the bottom of the fifth for a 5-0 lead.

Senior Dustin Torres started the inning with a single and was sent home on a double from Pomales.  Spini was walked and the final run scored when McKee singled to left field.

The Rangers attempted to cut the disadvantage in the top of the sixth, but were only able to plate one run for a 5-1 score.

ECU then added two insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth on a double from Susca and singles from Huie, Torres and Spini for the 7-1 final.