BETHANY, OKLA. – After having last weekend off, the East Central University softball team returned to the filed to split a "home" series with Southern Nazarene at Cypert Athletic Complex.  The Tigers (10-10, 7-5 GAC) fell in the opener 2-6 and then rebounded with a 9-3 victory in game two.

ECU was led by sophomore Sydney Dow, who hit .571 for the day on four hits, one run and two RBIs.  Junior Jordynn VanPelt added a .429 average, three hits, three runs and four RBIs.

Junior Marissa Shaffer earned the win in the circle, throwing a complete game.  Shaffer allowed seven hits and three runs, while striking out two.

The teams will continue the four-game Great American Conference series Sunday, March 22 at 1 p.m.

Game 1 – SNU 6, ECU 2
The Crimson Storm were the first to get on the scoreboard, adding a run in the top of the third inning.

The Tigers responded to tie the game in the bottom of the third when senior Kayci Snider led off the inning with a single to center.  Sophomore Hayley Hyatt went in to run and stole second.  Hyatt was advanced to third on a bunt single by senior Peyton Watson, who then stole second herself.  The run was then scored when junior Autumn Suydam hit a sacrifice fly to left field.

SNU wasted no time adding to their total, with a single run in the fourth and then four runs in the fifth to a 1-6 advantage.

ECU was able to score a run in the top of the seventh, with a single from junior Amanda Edmundson, a fielder's choice from Dow and a sacrifice fly from Snider, but they fell 2-6.

Game 2 – ECU 9, SNU 3
The Tigers came out ready to fight in the second game, taking a 1-0 lead in the first inning on a home run to left field by VanPelt.

The Crimson Storm briefly took a 1-2 advantage after the top of the third, but ECU responded with four runs in the bottom of the third for a 5-2 advantage.

Snider led off the inning with a walk and Hyatt went in as a pinch runner and stole second.  She was advanced to third on a single by redshirt junior Peyton Watson.  Suydam loaded the bases with a bunt single and the bases remained loaded when Hyatt was thrown out at home on a fielder's choice by senior Kaile Marcum. 

The first two runs were scored when VanPelt hit a single up the middle.  The runners then advanced on a wild pitch, putting them both in scoring position when Dow singled up the middle for two RBIs.

The Tigers added two more runs in the fifth inning on doubles from Dow and Edmundson and a single by senior Samantha McGraw.

ECU continued to add to their lead with two more runs in the bottom of the sixth for a 9-3 lead.  Marcum started the inning with a single to second and advanced to second on a stolen base and third on a wild pitch.  She was sent home on a double by VanPelt down the left field line.  Dow and Edmundson then loaded the bases with a single and a walk, which allowed senior Lacey Williams-Wehnolm to earn an RBI with a sacrifice fly to left.