ADA – For the first time as Great American Conference opponents, the East Central University softball team is set to host Oklahoma Baptist in a four-game league series, April 1-2 at Tiger Field. Doubleheaders are set for each day, with Friday, April 1 starting at 2 p.m. and Saturday, April 2 at noon.
The Tigers are 16-21 and 13-13 in the GAC after splitting a doubleheader with rival Southeastern (March 29). That puts ECU in sixth in the league standings at the half-way point of the season.
ECU is currently being led by a trio of seniors, with batting averages over .350. Senior
Autumn Suydam leads the group with a .392 average, 27 runs, 38 hits and 10 RBIs. Senior
Taylor Davis adds a .369 average, while senior
Jordynn VanPelt has tallied a .363 average, 22 runs, 41 hits and 33 RBIs.
The Bison are 12-20 overall and 9-15 in the league after splitting a doubleheader with Southern Nazarene March 29. In the first year of the league OBU is currently eighth in the standings, but will not be eligible for post-season play due to NCAA transition rules.
The Bison have three players hitting over .300 for the season, while the team is hitting .245 and allowing a .274 mark. Shalee Cordell leads the team with a .350 average, 17 runs, 35 hits and 13 RBIs.
OBU uses four pitchers, with three throwing over 40 innings and one at 73. McKenzie Jones leads the group with a 3.34 ERA and 2-9 record in 71.1 innings, seven complete games and one shutout. She has allowed 86 hits, 50 run and struck out 54.
The teams have meet on 33 previous occasions, with ECU winning the last 15. The Tigers are 22-11 in the all-time series, with a 12-6 mark at home. The last time the teams met was during the 2013 season, when ECU won four games, two at home and two on the road.
