The East Central University softball team will start the 2015 season with the strongest competition available at the 2015 NFCA DII Leadoff Classic, Feb. 6-8 in Tucson, Ariz.  The Tigers will open the season against 2014 NCAA DII Champion West Texas A&M, who is also ranked No. 1 in the preseason poll.  The game is set for Friday, Feb. 6 at 4:30 p.m.  ECU will also face No. 23 California Baptist Friday at 6:30 p.m. and No. 16 St. Mary's, Saturday, Feb. 7 at noon for guaranteed games.  After the pool play the tournament changes to a double-elimination tournament.

Game Notes

The Tournament Field
The tournament consists of 18 teams, with all earning invitations to participate.  A total of six teams are ranked in the NFCA DII Preseason Poll, including Dixie State (3), Southeastern Oklahoma State (4) and Missouri-St. Louis (13).  Another three teams also received votes in the first poll (New Haven, Central Oklahoma and Texas Woman's).

The Coverage
Fans who can't be at the game can find links to live stats, live video on ECUTigers.com.  Go to the softball schedule page.

Preseason Predictions
After finished the 2014 season tied for fifth, ECU has been picked to finish third in the Great American Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll.

The Tigers, who finished 33-25 overall and 22-18 in league action a season ago, received a total of 79 points, with one first-place vote.  The 2014 regular-season champs, Southeastern Oklahoma State were picked to finish first in 2015, earning 97 points and seven first-place votes.  Southern Arkansas was the other team to finish above ECU, earning 85 points and two first-place votes.

Henderson State was picked fourth (71 points/1 first-place votes), Harding fifth (66), Northwestern Oklahoma State sixth (52), Arkansas-Monticello seventh (47), Arkansas Tech eighth (44), Southern Nazarene ninth (24), Southwestern Oklahoma State 10th (21) and Ouachita Baptist 11th (19).

The Tigers return 14 letter winners and seven starters from last season and have seven new faces on the team.  ECU will open the 2015 season at the NFCA DII Leadoff Classic in Tucson, Ariz., Feb. 6-8.  The Tigers will face some of the best teams in the country at the event, including the 2014 NCAA DII National Champion West Texas A&M in the first game of the tournament (Feb. 6).

Returning Power
ECU will be looking to improve on their record from a season ago.  The Tigers have a strong chance of doing just that, as they have 14 returners, including seven starters on the 2015 squad.

Of the 14 returners from the 2014 season, five student-athletes were honored by the GAC last season for their performances.  Sophomore Sydney Dow, senior Samantha McGraw and junior Autumn Suydam all earned All-GAC Second Team honors.  Junior Jordynn VanPelt and senior Kaile Marcum were also honored by the league with All-GAC Honorable Mention selections.

Dow led the team in the circle, with a 12-4 record, four shutouts, eight complete games and 132 strikeouts. McGraw had a .337 batting average, 57 hits, 29 runs and 34 RBIs.   Suydam hit .389 and garnered 63 hits, 41 runs and 18 RBIs.

VanPelt led the team and league with 59 RBIs and added 56 hits, 15 home runs, 38 runs scored and a .348 batting average.  Marcum led the team with a .406 average and garnered 63 hits, 36 runs and 16 RBIs.

Up Next
The Tigers will remain on the road and hit their second-straight tournament, Feb. 14-15 as they will participate in the UAM 8-State Classic in Bentonville, Ark.