SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – The East Central University softball team's offense broke through to help the Tigers (2-4) earn two lopsided victories in the second day of the St. Mary's NCAA DII College Classic.  ECU first claimed a 13-2 win over St. Edward's in five innings and then a 14-6 decision over Colorado School of Mines.

The Tigers were led by seniors Autumn Suydam and Taylor Davis, with both hitting .800and recording four hits.  Suydam scored four times, while Taylor Davis crossed the plate five and added two RBIs.

ECU had a total of eight players recording a .500 batting average or higher for the day, with the team combining for 27 hits, one double, one triple and five home runs.

Junior Kelbie Crelia picked up her first win of the year, throwing a complete game against St. Edward's.  Crelia allowed three hits and two unearned runs, while striking out two batters. 

Senior Marissa Shaffer started the second game of the day, throwing six innings, allowing nine hits and four runs and striking out six.  Junior Sydney Dow finished the game, recording two Ks.

The Tigers will wrap up the three day tournament with a single game, Saturday, Feb. 6 when they face No. 12 St. Mary's at noon.

East Central 13, St. Edward's 2
The Tigers picked up their first win of the 2016 season, earning a 13-2 win in five innings over St. Edward's.

ECU jumped out to an early 3-0 lead after the first inning.  Taylor Davis led off the game with a walk and was joined on base by Suydam who singled through the left side.  That put two runners on for senior Lauren Reeves, who hit her first home run since 2014.

The Tigers pushed the lead out to 5-0 in the second.  Freshman Breecia Crawford and Taylor Davis were walked and the bases were loaded when Suydam hit a bunt single to third.  After an out that left the bases loaded, Reeves reached on a fielder's choice to score a run.  Senior Amanda Edmundson sent the next run across the plate with a single through the left side.

ECU continued its scoring drive in the third, with a single run to go up 6-0.  Freshman Ellanee Allison singled and was sent to second on a sacrifice bunt by freshman Mariah Ewy.  After the second out Taylor Davis earned an RBI with a single down the left line.

The fourth inning is when the Tigers really took control, scoring seven runs for a 13-0 advantage.  Senior Jordynn VanPelt led off the inning with a solo home run.  Reeves followed with a triple to left center and scored on a wild pitch.

Edmundson kept things going with a single and was joined on base by Allison after the first out.  Freshman Michelle Brandon loaded the bases with a single to the pitcher.  That set up Crawford for two RBIs when she singled to right. 

Freshman Madison Thompson reloaded the bases by drawing a walk and two more runs were scored when freshman Ashley Belote singled.  Reeves earned the final RBI with a single to right.

The 13-0 lead meant that unless the Hilltoppers (1-2) scored six runs the game would end after the top of the fifth.  While St. Edward's did score, they only tallied two runs for the 13-2 final.

East Central 14, Colorado School of Mines 6
The Tigers picked up right where they had left off in the first game and took an early 5-0 lead after the first inning.  Taylor Davis led off with a single, Suydam walked and VanPelt recorded a single to load the bases.  Edmundson earned an RBI on the next at-bat, hitting into a fielder's choice.

Freshman Kasey Moore then reached on an error that allowed two runs to score.  Sophomore Bre'Anna Davis was walked and Allison hit into a fielder's choice that left the bases loaded.  That allowed Ewy to earn an RBI when she drew a walk, and Taylor Davis to earn the final one of the inning with a single to center.

ECU added two more runs in the second inning to push the advantage to 7-0.  Suydam singled and VanPelt doubled down the left field line to put runners on second and third.  Reeves then sent a shot down the right-field line to score both base runners.

The OreDiggers (0-3) cut into the lead in the bottom of the third, scoring three runs.

The teams then kept each other from doing more damage on the scoreboard until the fifth inning.  ECU added two more runs for a 9-3 advantage.  Taylor Davis and Brandon were both walked and sent to second and third on a wild pitch.  A second wild pitch allowed Taylor Davis to score.  VanPelt was then walked and stole second.  Reeves sent the final run across the plate when she grounded out to first.

CSM added one more run in the bottom of the inning for a 9-4 lead for the Tigers.

In the seventh inning, ECU's offense really took control, adding five runs to the scoreboard on three back-to-back home runs.  Taylor Davis started the inning with a single and Brandon was walked, which allowed VanPelt to earn three RBIs with a home run to center field.  Reeves added a solo home run to right center and Thompson the third down the left line for a 14-4 lead.

The OreDiggers managed to add two runs in the bottom of the seventh, but it was not enough and ECU earned the 14-6 victory.