BETHANY, OKLA. – The East Central University baseball team fell just short in the final game of the Great American Conference at Southern Nazarene, 7-8.
The Tigers (10-28, 9-21 GAC) were led by senior
Jake MeKeel and junior
Connor Stevenson, with three hits each. MeKeel tallied two runs and two RBIs, while
Connor Stevenson added two RBIs.
Senior
Jake Wellington started the game on the mound, throwing the first 4.2 innings and striking out six. Junior
Shae Edmonds suffered the loss in the final 3.1 innings, with two strikeouts.
ECU started the scoring, taking a 1-0 lead after the top of the first. MeKeel led off with a single to left and was sent to second on a sacrifice bunt by senior
Kodiak O'Ravez.
Connor Stevenson added a single to push the runner to third, allowing senior
Kaleb Matthews to earn the RBI on a single.
However, the Crimson Strom (7-37, 5-25 GAC) countered with three runs in the bottom of the first for a 1-3 score.
The Tigers then took their turn and tallied three runs in the second for a 4-3 lead. Junior
Kade Hayes was walked and junior
Austin LoBue hit into a fielder's choice leaving on runner on when MeKeel hit a home run.
O'Ravez kept the inning alive with a single and advanced to second on a wild pitch. That put him in scoring position when
Connor Stevenson singled through the left side.
SNU then tied the game at four, with a single run in the bottom of the second, before taking a 4-5 lead with a run in the third.
ECU got their bats going again in the fifth. Senior
JT Stevenson was walked before Hayes sent a shot over the left center wall for two runs and a 6-5 advantage.
The Tigers added one more run in the sixth on a triple from O'Ravez and a single from
Connor Stevenson for the 7-5 lead.
Unfortunately, the Crimson Storm kept pushing and tied the game at seven in the sixth and then took the lead for good with a run in the eighth (7-8).
ECU will now get ready for the final regular-season series of the 2017 season, April 28-29 against arch rival Southeastern Oklahoma State at Ken Turner Field. The weekend is the annual Senior Weekend, where the Tigers will honor their nine seniors.
