BONHAM, TEXAS – The East Central University softball team dropped the final two games of the four-game Great American Conference series with No. 7 Southern Arkansas.  The Tigers (6-8, 1-3 GAC) first fell 13-5 in five innings and then 7-4 in the second game of the day.

ECU was led by junior Aundrea Hamric, who was a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate, scoring three runs, an RBI and two stolen bases.  Senior Alissa Taylor led the team with two RBIs, while adding three hits and a run.

Freshman Jacey Henry earned two hits, a run and an RBI, while also throwing 5.1 innings in the circle.  She allowed five runs and four hits, while striking out five.

The Tigers will now get ready to head to Southwestern Oklahoma State next weekend for a GAC series with the Bulldogs in Weatherford, Okla.

SAU 13, ECU 5 (5)
The teams kept each other scoreless through the second inning.  In the third it was the Tigers who got the scoring started, putting two runs across the plate.

Junior Kahlie Barrett led off the inning with a double and was sent to third when junior Mariah Ewy reached due to an error.  That allowed Hamric to earn the first RBI with a single.  Henry kept the inning going with a fielder's choice and the second run scored on a single by Taylor.

ECU added three runs to the lead in the fourth for a 5-0 advantage.  Junior Ellanee Allison started the inning reaching on an error.  Junior Breecia Crawford reached with a single and each runner stole a base.  That put Barrett in a position to put a run home with a sacrifice fly.  Ewy added another RBI when she grounded out to second.

Hamric then singled and stole second.  Henry joined her on base with a single and stole second allowing Hamric to steal home for the final run of the inning.

However, in the bottom of the fourth the Muleriders took control of the game, scoring 10 run for a 10-5 lead.  SAU added three more runs in the fifth to put the run rule into effect and claim the 13-5 win.

SAU 7, ECU 4
Defense was strong for both teams in the opening three innings, keeping each other scoreless.  SAU was the first to get on the scoreboard, taking a 1-0 lead in the fourth.

ECU pushed back in the fifth and scored three runs for a 3-1 advantage.  Freshman Angela Stoker started the inning with a single and then was ran for by senior Hayley Hyatt, who stole second.  Hamric then singled to put runners on the corners.  Henry then earned an RBI when she singled to left.

Taylor added a run when she hit into a fielder's choice that left everyone else safe.  The final run came across when freshman Tarah Hilton lined out to short and the throw home was off target.

However, SAU tied things back up at three with two runs and then took a 7-3 lead with four runs in the sixth.

The Tigers tried to mount a come-back in the seventh.  Taylor started the inning with a single to right center and was advanced to second when Hilton singled to second base.  After the first out senior Claresha Clemons hit a sacrifice fly to right to score Taylor.

However, that was all that ECU could add to the scoreboard, falling 7-4.