ADA – The East Central University softball team claimed a series sweep of Ouachita Baptist, with two victories in the final day of games.  The Tigers (12-11, 9-3 GAC) first took a 9-0 five-inning win and then a come-from-behind 6-5 win in the second game of the day.

ECU was led by freshman Madison Thompson, who tallied a .857 batting average, with two runs, six hits and three RBIs.  Senior Jordynn VanPelt added a .500 average, with three runs, two home runs a single and six RBIs.

Junior Sydney Dow earned the shutout win in game one, allowing no hits or runs, walking one and striking out two.  Senior Marissa Shaffer picked up the win in the final game, throwing the last three innings, allowing five hits and two runs, while striking out two.

After two straight weeks at home, the Tigers will now hit the road for a four-game Great American Conference series at Henderson State, March 11-12.

East Central 5, Ouachita 0
ECU came out ready to play, scoring a run in each of the first three innings.  In the first inning the run was scored on singles from seniors Taylor Davis, Autumn Suydam, Thompson and VanPelt.

The second inning run came when freshman Breecia Crawford singled and was sent to second on a ground out by Taylor Davis.  Suydam earned the RBI when she reached due to an error.

The Tigers went up 3-0 in the third after a single from Thompson, sacrifice bunt from VanPelt and a ground out from freshman Caitlin Paolini.

The fourth inning is when ECU really kicked up the offensive power, scoring six runs for a 9-0 advantage.

Freshman Ellanee Allison started the inning with a double to left center.  Crawford and Taylor Davis were added to the basses due to an error and a walk.  That allowed Suydam to earn two RBIs on a fielder's choice that resulted in a throwing error and no outs. 

Thompson added two more runs with a double to center and VanPelt ended the scoring with the first of her two home runs for the day.

While, Ouachita (7-13, 1-11 GAC) did get a runner on in the top of the fifth due to a walk, they did not score forcing the game to end early with the run rule.

East Central 6, Ouachita 5
The second game of the day saw OBU start the scoring, getting a single run in the third on three hits.

The Tigers countered with four runs in the bottom of the inning for a 4-1 lead.  Senior Lauren Reeves singled and was sent to second on a sacrifice bunt from sophomore Bre'Anna Davis and to third on a ground out by Taylor Davis.  Suydam sent the run across the plate with a single up the middle.

Thompson added an RBI to her totals with a single to right and VanPelt sent her second ball over the fence for the final two runs.

Ouachita cut into the advantage with two runs in the fourth and then took a 4-5 lead with two runs in the sixth.

ECU went into the bottom of the seventh trailing 4-5, but Thompson started a rally with a double to center.  VanPelt sent her home when she reached due to an error and was then sent to second on a sacrifice bunt by freshman Kayci Moore.

Dow earned the game-winning RBI as a pinch hitter for the second time this season, as she sent a single up the middle to score VanPelt and give the Tigers the 6-5 win.