Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 DURANT, OKLA. – The East Central University baseball team saw the 2016 season come to an end in the first round of the Great American Conference Championship Tournament after forcing the if-necessary game against Southeastern.  The Tigers (17-31) first claimed an 8-3 win and then fell in the winner-take-all game 6-7.

Photo Gallery

ECU was led by sophomore Austin LoBue and junior JT Stevenson, who both hit .500 for the day, with four hits. 

Sophomore Kyle Britt earned the win for ECU in game one, throwing six innings and striking out four.  Junior Jake Wellington picked up the save, striking out two and allowing zero runs in the final three innings.

East Central 8, Southeastern 3
ECU opened the scoring in the top of the first inning, taking a 1-0 lead on a single from senior Kris Molter and an RBI double from junior Jake MeKeel down the right field line.

The Savage Storm (30-23) tied the game in the bottom of the inning, but the Tigers responded with four runs in the second inning for a 5-1 advantage.  After the first out, junior Trevor Huie doubles, junior Kodiak O'Ravez was walked and Molter loaded the bases when he reached due to an error.  That allowed junior Kaleb Matthews to earn four RBIs with a grand slam to right center.

Southeastern again responded with a run in the bottom of the inning for a 5-2 ECU lead.  The Savage Storm then added a run in the bottom of the fifth to cut the lead to 5-3.

However, the Tigers pushed the lead back out with three runs in the sixth to 8-3.  Matthews and Stevenson were hit by pitchers and junior Trey Mound singled to load the bases.  The first run cross on a single through the left side by LoBue and two more on a double from Huie.

Both teams got runners on in the next two innings and ECU added one in the ninth, but no more runs crossed the plate.  The Tigers forced Southeastern in a three-and-out in the bottom of the ninth for the 8-3 win and forced the winner-take-all games for the series.

Southeastern 7, East Central 6
The teams held each other scoreless for the first two innings before the Savage Storm got on the scoreboard with a run in the bottom of the third.  Southeastern added five runs in the fourth to lead 0-6 before ECU made a push in the fifth.

Stevenson started the inning with a single through the right side and was followed on base by LoBue, with a single to center.  Junior Kristian De La Toree hit into a fielder's choice that left runners at first and third, which allowed a run to score on a wild pitch.  Huie got on by drawing a walk and both runners scored on a home run to right center from Molter for the 4-6 score.

Southeastern responded with a run in the bottom of the fifth to push the lead back to three (4-7).

But ECU was not done yet, adding a run of their own in the top of the sixth.  After an out, Mound doubled down the right field line.  The second out was recorded, but Mound stole third and due to an error by the catcher was able to score (5-7).

The Tigers then pulled within one (6-7) in the seventh.  Huie was walked and stole second before he was able to score on a double by Molter.

The teams then bunkered down again and held each other scoreless through the eighth inning. That left ECU with a half inning to tie or take a lead.  The Tigers managed to load the bases due to an error, hit by pitch and walk, but were unable to score and fell 6-7.