ADA – The East Central University softball team dropped a doubleheader to No. 5 Arkansas Tech in Great American Conference action at Tiger Field.  The Tigers (14-17, 11-9 GAC) fell 1-4 in the opening game of the day and then 1-6 in the finale of the series.

ECU was led by senior Jordynn VanPelt, who hit .400 for the day, with two hits and an RBI.

Junior Sydney Dow threw the first game of the day, allowing five hits and four runs, while striking out five.  Senior Marissa Shaffer threw the last four innings of game two, allowing just one hit and two runs and earning a strikeout.

The Tigers will now be off until March 25-26 at Harding.  ECU will then play the first of two doubleheaders with Southeastern, Tuesday, March 29 in Durant, Okla.

ATU 4, ECU 1
The start of the first game of the day was all about defense, with the Golden Suns (25-2, 17-1 GAC) getting just one base runner in the first four innings and the Tigers two.

ATU was the first to get on the scoreboard, going up 0-2 in the fifth.

ECU cut the deficit in half with one runs in the sixth.  After the first two outs, senior Taylor Davis hit a double down the right field line and was sent home by VanPelt's single to right center.

The Golden Suns then added two more runs in the seventh and didn't let the Tigers get a base runner past first in the bottom of the inning for the 1-4 final.

ATU 6, ECU 1
It took until the third inning for the scoring to start in the final game of the series when ATU scored three runs for the lead.

The Golden Suns added two runs in the fourth and a run in the sixth to push the lead to 0-6.

The Tigers got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the sixth.  After the first out, VanPelt drew a walk and senior Lauren Reeves hit into a fielder's choice.  Senior Lacey Paulk was added to the base path with a single to the pitcher.  Freshman Caitlin Paolini then earned an RBI with a single to right field and the 1-6 final score.