BONHAM, TEXAS – The East Central University softball team split the first Great American Conference double-header of the 2018 season, with No. 7 Southern Arkansas.  The Muleriders (10-2, 1-1 GAC) claimed a 10-0 win, in five innings, in the opening game and then the Tigers (6-6, 1-1 GAC) earned a 2-1 win in the second game.

ECU saw junior Breecia Crawford and senior Claresha Clemons hit .500 for the day, playing in one game each.  Senior Alissa Taylor added a .333 average, playing in two games, with two hits.

Freshman Angel Stoker earned the win in the circle in game two, throwing the first 5.1 innings.  Stoker allowed three hits, one run and struck out three.

The teams will wrap up the GAC series, Monday, Feb. 26 with a double-header in Bonham, Texas starting at 11 a.m.

ECU 2, SAU 1
The second game was much different than the first, with neither team getting on the scoreboard until the fourth inning.  The Tigers broke the stalemate with a run in the top of the fourth to take a 1-0 lead.

Clemons led off the inning with a single and was sent to second on a sacrifice bunt by junior Ellanee Allison.  That allowed junior Kahlie Barrett to earn the RBI with a double.

ECU added to its advantage with a run in the top of the fifth.  Freshman Jacey Henry reached due to an error and scored when Taylor and freshman Tarah Hilton singled, for the 2-0 lead.

The Muleriders were able to get a run across in the bottom of the sixth with a single hit, to cut the lead to 2-1.

Nothing changed in the top of seventh, so SAU had one last chance to score, but went three-up; three-down to give the Tigers the 2-1 victory.

SAU 10, ECU 0 (5)
Game one got away from the Tigers early, with the Muleriders tallying nine runs in the bottom of the first inning.  SAU then added a run in the second for a 10-0 lead.

ECU was only able to get runners on base during the second inning, and had the bases loaded with one out, but were unable to score, resulting in the 10-0 loss in five innings.