ADA – The East Central University baseball team picked up its first win of the 2017 season, with a split in the opening games of the Great American Conference season against Arkansas-Monticello at Ken Turner Field.  The Tigers (1-8, 1-1 GAC) first claimed a 6-3 win and then fell 3-4 to the Boll Weevils (3-6, 1-1 GAC).

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ECU was led by junior Carson Bowen, who hit .429 for the day, with one run, three hits and three RBIs.  Junior Connor Stevens added a .286 average, two runs, two hits and two RBIs, while senior Trevor Huie led the team with four RBIs.

Junior Brandon Dusenberry picked up the win in game one, throwing the first seven innings, allowing five hits and three runs and striking out seven.  Senior Jake Wellington started the second game and struck out five in five innings of work, while junior Brady Holcomb suffered the loss, allowing a hit and run and earning four Ks.

The teams will wrap up the series, Sunday, Feb. 19 at 11 a.m. at Ken Turner Field.

ECU 6, UAM 3
UAM wasted no time getting on the scoreboard as they took a 0-1 advantage after the top of the first.

However, the Tigers quickly responded and took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the inning.  Senior Jake MeKeel hit a one-out single and was sent home when Connor Stevenson hit a home run to left field.
The Boll Weevils regained the lead in the fourth, with two runs on one hit and a walk.

The teams then played strong defense through the top of the sixth before ECU took control of the scoreboard in the bottom of the sixth.

MeKeel started the inning with a walk and was sent to second on a single from Connor Stevenson.  Senior Kaleb Matthews sent the runners to second and third with a sacrifice bunt before redshirt junior Josh Reeves was walked to load the bases.  Bowen then earned two of his RBIs with a single to right center.  The final run scored when Huie reached on a fielder's choice with no outs.

The Tigers buckled down and held UAM scoreless through the rest of the game, while adding another run in the bottom of the eight for the 6-3 final.  Huie earned the RBI with a sacrifice fly after Matthews walked and Bowen singled.
UAM 4, ECU 3
The second game was a back-and-forth battle for control.  UAM took the first lead with a run in the top of the first.

ECU then added a run in the bottom of the second on a home run by Bowen to tie the score at one.

In the bottom of the fifth, the Tigers took a 3-1 advantage after Huie homered to left after Matthews had walked.

However, in the top of the fifth the Boll Weevils tied things back at three-all with two runs on home run of their own.

UAM then took the key lead in the top of the seventh, scoring a run on a home run.

ECU got a runner on second during the bottom of the inning with a double by junior Dalton Etheredge, but it was not enough to tie the game or take the lead.