MAGNOLIA, ARK. – The East Central University baseball team split a double-header with Southern Arkansas in Great American Conference action.

The Tigers (21-17, 11-11 GAC) were led by senior Casey Chenoweth, who garnered a .571 average, four hits, three runs and two RBIs.  Senior Bryce McKee added four RBIs on three hits, including two doubles.

Senior Cam McKay took the win in the opening game of the day on the mound, pitching the first eight innings.  McKay allowed six hits and four runs, while striking out six.

ECU will get ready for the final week of regular-season action.  The final three games of the regular-season will be at Ken Turner Field against arch rival Southeastern Oklahoma State, April 24-25.

Game 1 – ECU 10, SAU 4
The Tigers jumped into action taking a 5-0 lead after the top of the first inning.  Seniors Dustin Torres, Ariel Adut and Nick Spini all singled to load the bases, with senior Casey Chenoweth earning an RBI with a walk.  Senior Bryce McKee then added three RBIs with a bases-clearing double down the right line.  Senior Garrett Donohoe was added to the base path with a single, which allowed senior David Terrazas to earn an RBI with a sacrifice fly.

ECU then added three runs in the second, for an 8-0 advantage.  Torres and Spini singled to put runners on the corners.  Chenoweth sent home a run with a single to left and McKee added an RBI with a double to right center.  The final run came on a sacrifice fly by Donohoe.

The scored remained 8-0 until the top of the sixth, when the Tigers added a run for a 9-0 lead.  Spini singled and advanced to second on a wild pitch and to third on an error.  Donohoe then reached due to an error to score the run.
The Muleriders (31-15, 17-10 GAC) finally got on the score board in the bottom of the sixth, with a single run.

ECU countered and earned a run in the eighth on a double by Chenoweth, walk by McKee and single by Donohoe for the 10-1 advantage.

SAU was the final team to add runs to the scoreboard, cutting the disadvantage to 10-4 in the bottom of the eighth.

Game 2 – SAU 9, ECU 4
The Muleriders came out fighting and took a quick lead, with a run in the first, five in the second and a run in the third for a 0-7 advantage.

The Tigers got on the board in the top of the fifth, cutting the disadvantage to three (4-7).  McKee started the inning by reaching due to an error.  Donohoe was walked and after the next out runners were on second and third.  That set up senior Andrew Ayrado up for two RBIs with a single.  Senior Ty Huie was hit and Torres walked to load the bases to keep the inning going.  The second out was recorded, but Spini added two more runs with a single up the middle.

However, SAU added a run in the fifth and sixth for a 4-9 final.