ADA – In the final home games of the 2017 season, the East Central University softball team swept the final two games of the Great American Conference series against Southern Nazarene.  The Tigers first earned a 4-3 win in the opening game and then won 10-2 in five innings in the final outing.

The Tigers (28-23, 19-20 GAC) were led by junior Claresha Clemons, who hit .600 with three hits, two runs and three RBIs.  Sophomore Alissa Taylor added a .429 average, three hits and three RBIs.

Freshman Karlie Milburn earned the win in the opening game, throwing the final 0.2 innings after senior Kelbie Crelia started the game.  Freshman Sierra Skaggs then threw her second complete game of the season in the night cap, allowing four hits and two runs, while striking out one.

ECU will wrap up the 2017 regular-season on the road, April 28-29 at Arkansas-Monticello.  Double headers are set for Friday at 2 p.m. and Saturday at noon.

ECU 4, SNU 3
Clemons got the scoring started in the opening game, with a solo home run in the third inning to left field.

The Tigers then added two more runs in the fourth for a 3-0 lead.  After two outs, freshman Lindsae Walker singled, senior Haley Hyatt doubled and Taylor singled to score the first run.  Clemons then added her second RBI in the game with a single up the middle.

The Crimson Storm (20-32, 16-24 GAC) did not go away quietly, as they cut the deficit to one (3-2) in the sixth and then tied the game at three in the top of the seventh.

ECU then buckled down in the bottom of the seventh to earn the 4-3 win.  Clemons started the inning by drawing a walk and was sent to second when a sacrifice bunt attempt by Allison left both runners safe. 

Sophomore Mariah Ewy then added a sacrifice bunt to put the runners on second and third before Thompson was walked to load the bases.

Sophomore Breecia Crawford then earned the game-winning RBI with a walk-off hit by pitch.

ECU 10, SNU 2 (5)
The second game saw the scoring start in the second inning, when the Tigers scored five runs.  Thompson and Crawford singled and redshirt sophomore Aundrea Hamric then loaded the bases with a fielder's choice that left all batters safe.

After the first out, freshman Nikki Herrin sent a single to center field that allowed three runs to score after the throw to home was errant.  A wild pitch scored a fourth run and doubles from Taylor and Clemons scored the final.

ECU added to its lead with four more runs in the third to lead 9-0.  Crawford, Hamric and freshman Jaclyn Willis singled to load the bases.  Two runs were then able to score when Hyatt reached due to an error.  Taylor added an RBI with a single to right field.

The Tigers added a final run in the fourth, for the 10-0 advantage.

SNU then tried to mount a comeback, or at least hold off the run rule in the fifth.  However, the Crimson Storm were only able to tally two runs to end the game with a 10-2 final.