BENTONVILLE, ARK -  The East Central University softball team will be making their first trip to the Great American Conference Championship Saturday after picking up a 5-0 win over Henderson State.  ECU will face either Arkansas Tech, Southeastern Oklahoma State or Henderson State, whoever comes out of the loser's bracket after tonight's final two games.

The Tigers (31-13) were led by junior Lauren Reeves, with three hits, two RBIs and seven putouts for the day.  Junior Lacey Paulk claimed the win in the circle, with a complete-game shutout.  Paulk allowed three hits, zero runs and struck out two.

The game was a very defensive battle throughout, with no runs scored until the top of the sixth inning.  ECU turned two double plays in the first four innings and then added a key out in the bottom of the fifth with a tag out at home to save a Reddies (39-12) run from scoring.

ECU was the first to get to goose egg off the scoreboard, with junior Autumn Suydam started things with a single to short.  Junior Jordynn VanPelt was then walked and the runners were sent to second and third on a wild pitch.
That allowed junior Lauren Reeves to earn the first RBI with a single to short.  Redshirt junior Peyton Watson added the second run with a ground out to third.

The Tigers added three more runs in the bottom of the seventh for a 5-0 advantage.  Senior Kayci Snider started the inning with a double to right center and was joined on base when freshman Hayley Hyatt was walked.  A wild pitch put the runners on second and third.

After the first out, Suydam reached on a passed ball for strike three and VanPelt sent home two runs when she reached due to an error.  Reeves added the final run with a single to left center.

ECU then kept the defensive pressure up and held HSU scoreless in the bottom of the seventh for the 5-0 victory.