ADA – The East Central University softball team is hitting the road for the first time in 2016 and will be facing strong competition at the St. Mary's Division II College Classic in San Antonio, Texas.  The Tigers will play five games at the tournament, with two coming against ranked opponents, Feb. 4-6.

ECU will first face Lubbock Christian, Feb. 4 at 10 a.m. and then No. 10 Tarleton State at noon that day.  Friday, Feb. 5, the Tigers will battle with St. Edwards (10 a.m.) and Colorado School of Mines (2:30 p.m.).  On the final day of the tournament (Feb. 6), ECU will face host No. 12 St. Mary's at noon.

The Tigers started the season with two losses, but saw strong performances from several players, with four hitting .400 or higher.  Freshman Madison Thompson had a .500 batting average, with two runs, two hits and four RBIs.
Senior Taylor Davis added a .429 average, with three runs and three hits.  Davis started the season honors for ECU early, as she was named to the NFCA /Schutt Sports Division II National Player of the Year Watch List.  She is one of 23 returning NFCA All-Americans from 2015 on the list and is among a group of 50 players from across the country.  The Keller, Texas, native is one of two players on the list from the Great American Conference.

Lubbock Christian started the 2016 season by hosting a tournament of their own and finished the event with a 5-0 record, including two wins over No. 21 Regis.  Liz Torres led the Lady Chaps with a .583 batting average, one run scored, seven hits and four RBIs.  Morgan Colburn added six runs, six hits (two home runs) and eight RBIs.  In the circle, Katera Eltososie earned two starts, threw two complete games and ended with a 3-0 record.  She allowed just four hits and two runs and struck out 19.

Tarleton State is 2-0 on the year after defeating Texas A&M-International on the opening weekend.  Rebeka Allen was the top producer at the plate for the Texanns, with a .833 batting average, four runs, five hits and an RBI.  Haley Freyman and Shelby Hedrick both threw complete games for TSU.  Freyman allowed five hits and three runs and Hedrick allowed seven hits and three runs, with both recording two Ks.

St. Edward's will be playing their first games of the 2016 season at the tournament and finished 2015 with a 27-22 overall record.  The Hilltoppers return seven players (six starters) and have 12 newcomers on the roster.  Alex Mayfield is the top returner with a .418 batting average, 31 runs, 56 hits and 14 RBIs last season.  Morgan Dufour added a .394 average, 34 runs, 54 hits (15 home runs) and 49 RBIs.  However, St. Edward's will have a completely new pitching staff in 2016.

Colorado School of Mines will also be opening the 2016 season at the tournament and finished 2015 with an 11-38 record.  Paige Noehring is the top returner for the Orediggers, with a .392 batting average, 32 runs, 69 hits and 26 RBIs.  Hallie Smith went 8-20 in the circle, with 12 complete games.  She allowed 222 hits and 158 runs and struck out 129 batters.

The host Rattlers finished 48-12 in 2015, advancing to the College World Series.  However, St. Mary's returners just two starters from that team.  Veronica Garcia hit .333 and Hannah Fields added a .292 batting average, 28 runs, 35 hits and 12 RBIs.  Hope Russell is the returning pitcher with a 2.35 ERA and a 17-5 record.  She allowed 133 hits and 57 runs, while striking out 49.

The meetings with Lubbock Christian and Colorado School of Mines will be the first in school history. 

ECU and TSU have met eight times before, with all meetings in Ada and the last in 2013.  The Texanns hold a 3-5 advantage in the series.

The Tigers and Hilltoppers have played five times before, with two of those at a neutral site.  ECU holds a 3-2 advantage, but is 0-2 when playing at a neutral field.

St. Mary's holds a 2-5 advantage in the all-time series with the Tigers, with the last meeting coming in 2015.