ADA – With two victories over Arkansas-Monticello, the East Central University softball team clinched a spot at the 2016 Great American Conference Championship Tournament for the fifth-straight season.  The Tigers (23-24, 20-16 GAC) first claimed a 10-2 win in six innings and then defeated UAM 5-2.

ECU was led by a trio of seniors, who all hit home runs during the day.  Senior Jordynn VanPelt added two more hits and six RBIs for a .600 batting average.  Senior Autumn Suydam hit .500, with three hits and three RBIs.

Senior Lacey Paulk hit .429 with a home run and walk-off single in game one, while also earning the win in game two in the circle.  She allowed six hits and two runs, while striking out seven.

Senior Marissa Shaffer took the win in game one, allowing two runs and recording a strikeout.

The teams will wrap up the four-game series, Saturday, April 16 with a doubleheader slated to start at noon.  Just before the start of the first game, the Tigers will honor their six seniors: Taylor Davis, Lacey Paulk, Lauren Reeves, Marissa Shaffer, Autumn Suydam and Jordynn VanPelt.

East Central 10, Arkansas-Monticello 2 (6)
The Cotton Blossoms (27-23, 21-17 GAC) got on the scoreboard first, putting a run up in both the first and second innings for a 0-2 advantage.

However, when the Tigers got going they never looked back and held UAM scoreless the rest of the game.  ECU gained the lead in the bottom of the second inning, scoring three runs.  Freshmen Mariah Ewy and Ellanee Allison were both hit by pitches to start the inning.  Taylor Davis claimed the first RBI with a single to right and the runners were pushed to second and third on a sacrifice bunt from Suydam.  That allowed senior Jordynn VanPelt to earned two RBIs with a single through the left side.

The Tigers added three more runs in the fifth inning to increase the lead to 6-2.  Paulk claimed all three RBIs when she hit her first career home run.  Senior Lauren Reeves had started the inning with a double and freshman Breecia Crawford had singled.

ECU then put the run rule into effect in the sixth inning, scoring four runs for the 10-2 final.  Taylor Davis drew a walk and was sent to second on a fielder's choice by Suydam that did not result in an out.  That allowed VanPelt to score the first three runs with a home run to right center. 

Reeves kept the inning going with a single to left.  She was replaced on the base path by junior Carlee Henderson and an out and illegal pitch put the runner on third.  After Crawford was walked, Paulk hit a single the left field to score Henderson and end the game.

East Central 5, Arkansas-Monticello 2
The Tigers were the first to break the stalemate of the second game, putting three runs up in the third inning.  Allison reached due to an error after the first two outs and was sent around on a double to right by Taylor Davis. 
Suydam scored the next run with a single through the left side and VanPelt added the final run with a double to left.

ECU added two more runs in the fifth for a 5-0 lead.  Allison drew a walk, allowing Suydam to earn two RBIs with a home run to right field.

The Cotton Blossoms were the final team to score in the game, earning two runs in the sixth inning for the 5-2 final.