ADA – After not being able to play on their home field for over a month, the East Central University softball team took advantage of being at Tiger Field and earned an 11-10 win over arch rival Southeastern Oklahoma State. The second game of the double-header was cancelled due to lightening.
Photo GalleryThe Tigers (13-10, 10-5 GAC) were led by senior
Kaile Marcum, who earned three hits, three RBIs and two runs scored. Junior
Jordynn VanPelt hit the game-winning home run in the fifth inning, while also scoring three times and earning two RBIs for the game.
Junior
Lacey Paulk earned the win in the circle, in 3.2 innings of work. She allowed six hits and four runs, while striking out one.
The Savage Storm (12-15, 8-4 GAC) got on the scoreboard in the top of the first, scoring two runs.
However, ECU responded immediately, taking a 4-2 lead after the first. After the first two outs, VanPelt started a rally for the Tigers by getting hit by a pitch. She was sent to third on a single by sophomore
Sydney Dow to right center.
Senior
Lacey Williams-Wenholm earned the first RBI with a single to second and junior
Taylor Davis the second with a single up the middle. Senior
Lauren Reeves sent the final two runs home with a hard hit ball to center that was dropped by the centerfielder.
SEOSU added a run in the second and three in the third to gain a 4-6 advantage.
The Tigers responded with five runs in the bottom of the third to regain the lead, 9-6. Reeves singled, senior
Peyton Watson was hit by a pitch and junior
Autumn Suydam hit a bunt single down the first base line to load the bases. Marcum then earned three RBIs with a double to deep left field.
VanPelt and senior
Amanda Edmundson then drew walks to reload the bases and Williams-Wenholm was walked to score the second run. Davis then hit a line drive to right field and the throw back into first was off, which allowed VanPelt to score for the final run of the inning.
The Tigers increased the lead to 11-6 in the fifth after a single by Marcum and the ninth home run of the season from VanPelt.
The Savage Storm responded with four runs in the sixth to cut the advantage to one, 11-10, but ECU's defense held strong for the 11-10 victory.
The Tigers will now get ready for a four-game Great American Conference series at Arkansas-Monticello, Saturday, March 28 and Sunday, March 29. A double-header is set to start at 1 p.m., Saturday and at noon on Sunday.
