Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 | Box Score 3 TUCSON, ARIZ. – The East Central University softball team opened the 2015 season with a 1-2 record against three ranked teams at the 2015 NFCA DII Leadoff Classic at Lincoln Park.

The Tigers (1-2) were led by junior Autumn Suydam at the plate having tallied six hits, two runs and an RBI.

All four of the ECU pitching staff saw action in the first three games, with sophomore Sydney Dow earning two starts.  Junior Marissa Shaffer claimed the win in the second game of the season, throwing a complete game, while striking out seven.

The Tigers will continue into the Silver Championship Bracket, which is a double-elimination round.  ECU will first face Colorado State-Pueblo, Saturday, Feb. 7 at 8 p.m.  Depending on the outcome they will face either Fort Lewis or Western Oregon in the next round.

Other teams in the bracket include Regis, Molloy, Metro State and Texas Woman's.

Game 1 - #1 West Texas A&M 10, East Central 7
The first game of the 2015 season put the Tigers against the top team in the standings and the 2014 NCAA DII National Champion.  ECU was the first to score, but ended up falling 7-10.

The Tigers took a 1-0 advantage after the first inning.  Junior Autumn Suydam started the game with a leadoff double to left center.  The next two batters were sent back to the dugout, but junior Jordynn VanPelt earned her first RBI of the game with a single to right field.

The Aggies (1-0) responded with three runs in the second inning to push ahead 1-3.

ECU fought back and tied the game at three after the second inning.  Senior Lacey Williams-Wenholm started the inning when she was hit by a pitch. 
She was sent to second when senior Kayci Snider was walked.  The first out was then recorded, but senior Kaile Marcum kept things going with a single to right field that scored a run and put runners on the corners.  Suydam then reached due to an error to score the second run and tie the game at three.
West Texas wasn't done scoring, as they tallied two runs in the third, three in the fourth and two in the sixth for a 3-10 advantage.

After holding the Aggies without a run in the top of the seventh, the Tigers came out ready to rally.  After the first out, Marcum drew a walk and Sudyam and senior Samantha McGraw singled to load the bases.  Junior Taylor Davis earned an RBI when she hit into a fielder's choice that resulted in an error to score the first run of the inning.

VanPelt added a run when she grounded out to third, keeping runners at second and third.  That allowed two runs to score when Reeves reached on a throwing error and put the score at 7-10.  However, the next batter struck out and ended the come-back attempt.

Game 2 – East Central 5, #23 California Baptist 3
After finishing the first game of the tournament, the Tigers turned around and immediately started the second against another ranked team, this team defeating No. 23 California Baptist 5-3.

ECU was the first to get on the scoreboard, taking a 2-0 advantage in the top of the second.  After the first out, freshman Lauren Miller singled and was sent to third when redshirt junior Peyton Watson doubled.  Senior Kayci Snider earned the first RBI with a single and junior Autumn Suydam the second with a single.

The Tigers forced the Lancers (2-1) to a three-and-out in the bottom of the inning and then added two more runs to their total in the top of the third.

Junior Taylor Davis led off the inning with a triple and was sent home on a single from junior Jordynn VanPelt.  Junior Lauren Reeves sent VanPelt to second with a sacrifice bunt and VanPelt then stole third to be in scoring position.  Watson earned her first RBI of the game with a single and moved the score to 4-0.

California Baptist again went three-and-out in the bottom of the third and ECU scored its final run of the game in the top of the fourth inning.  Senior Kaile Marcum led off with a single and was sent to second on a sacrifice bunt by Suydam and to third on a ground out by senior Samantha McGraw.  That allowed Davis to earn the RBI when she singled and made the score 5-0.

The Lancers did not give up fighting and added a run in each of the next two innings to cut the advantage to 5-2.  CBU made a final push in the bottom of the seventh inning, scoring one more run on a home run, but the Tiger defense held strong for the 5-3 win.

Game 3 – #16 St. Mary's 9, ECU 0
The Rattlers (3-0) opened the game with a two-run first inning to take an early advantage.  SMU added two more runs in the third to go ahead 0-4.

Both teams picked up the defense in the next three innings, while the Rattlers held ECU without a run through the seventh inning.

SMU then added five runs in the bottom of the seventh to make the final 0-9.