BENTONVILLE, ARK. – The East Central University softball team dropped a pair of games in a shortened version of the 26 UAM 8-State Classic. The Tigers first suffered a 0-8 five-inning loss to No. 7 Missouri-St. Louis and then a 2-5 defeat by Emporia State.
The Tigers (3-8) recorded 13 hits on the day, with four players garnering two or more. Freshman
Kasey Moore led ECU with four hits and an RBI. Senior
Autumn Suydam added three hits, including a double, and junior
Sydney Dow and senior
Lauren Reeves each tallied two.
Senior
Lacey Paulk was in the circle for the first game, allowing 11 hits and eight runs. Senior
Marissa Shaffer threw a complete second game, allowing seven hits and five runs, while striking out three.
The final day of the tournament, scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 14 was cancelled due to inclement weather before the games started Saturday. The Tigers will now get ready for the start of the Great American Conference season when they head to Southwestern Oklahoma State, Feb. 19-20 for four games.
No. 7 Missouri-St. Louis 8, East Central 0The Tritons (9-0) started the scoring with a single run in the first inning. UMSL then added four more runs in the third and three in the fifth for the 0-8 lead and enough to end the game with the run rule.
The Tigers struggled to find their offensive stride in the game, with only senior
Autumn Suydam earning a hit and the Tritons recording 11.
Emporia State 5, East Central 2The Hornets were the first to get on the scoreboard as both teams held each other scoreless through the first two innings. ESU garnered four runs on five hits in the bottom of the third for the 0-4 lead.
The Tigers responded with a single run in the fourth. Reeves hit her first double of the game to start the inning and was sent to third when Moore singled to third. Dow earned the RBI for the inning with a single to second.
The Hornets did not go away easily and added a run in the bottom of the innings for a 2-5 disadvantage.
Both teams were held scoreless through the next two innings, leaving ECU one final chance to earn the win in the seventh inning.
Suydam started the inning with a double to left field. After the first out, Reeves sent Suydam to third with her second double of the game. A second out was then recorded, but Moore kept the inning alive with a single to second to score a run. Dow was then hit by a pitch to load the bases. However, the next batter grounded out to end the game with a 2-5 score.
