MAGNOLIA, ARK. – The East Central University softball team claimed the No. 7 seed at the 2016 Great American Conference Championship Tournament after falling to No. 20 Southern Arkansas in the final two games of the regular-season.  The Tigers (24-28, 21-20 GAC) fell 2-3 in game one and then 0-3 in the final game of the day.

ECU was led by freshman Ellanee Allison, with a .400 batting average, two hits and one run scored.  Senior Lacey Paulk and junior Sydney Dow added two hits this, with Paulk scoring once and Dow adding an RBI.

The Tigers will now get ready for the 2016 GAC Championship Tournament and will face No. 2 Southern Arkansas in the opening game, Thursday, April 28 at noon at Tiger Athletic Complex in Bentonville, Ark.

Southern Arkansas 3, East Central 2
The Muleriders (41-8, 33-8 GAC) opened the scoring in the third inning, scoring two runs.

ECU cut into the disadvantage with a run in the fourth inning.  After the first out, Paulk hit a single and was sent home on a single to center by Dow for the 1-2 score.

However, SAU countered with a run in the bottom of the inning to increase the lead back to two (1-3).

The Tigers kept fighting and added a run in the fifth.  Allison started the inning with a single to center and was sent to third on sacrifice bunts from freshman Mariah Ewy and senior Autumn Suydam.  That allowed senior Jordynn VanPelt to earn the RBI with a single to right.

The teams then held each other scoreless for the remaining innings for the 2-3 final.

Southern Arkansas 3, East Central 0
The second game of the day was all SAU, as they scored two runs in the second and one in the fifth for the 0-3 final.

The Tigers had their best chance to score in the fourth inning, with runners on second and third with one out, but the next two batters were sent back to the dugout with a run crossing the plate.