DURANT, OKLA. – The East Central University baseball team ended up dropping a 10-9 decision in 10 innings in a non-conference arch rivalry game at Southeastern Oklahoma State.
The Tigers (2-22, 1-14 GAC) ended up with 13 hits in the game, the same as the Savage Storm (11-16, 6-9 GAC). Three of those tallies came from junior
Yan-Eric Tremblay, while seniors
Trevor Crone and
Bryce Dimitroff and freshman
Dillon Mansell each tallied two.
Crone led the team with four RBIs, while Mansell and freshman
Cayden Coleman each netted two. Tremblay also ended up pitching for four innings, striking out five batters.
ECU started the scoring, taking a 2-0 lead after the second inning. After the first out, sophomore
Hayden George was hit by a pitch and moved to third after singles from freshman
Garrett Oldham and Mansell.
Coleman sent the first run across the plate when he hit into a fielder's choice that included an error to keep the bases loaded. The second run then crossed the plate after Crone was walked.
It took until the fifth inning before the Savage Storm got on the scoreboard, netting four runs to a 4-2 advantage. However, ECU responded in the top of the sixth to regain the lead.
Sophomore
Ryan White and George both singled and Oldham was walked to load the bases. That allowed Mansell to earn an RBI when he was hit by a pitch. Coleman tied the game at four with a fielder's choice. That left two runners on when Crone hit a three-run home run to left field for a 7-4 advantage.
Southeastern cut into the deficit with a run in the seventh inning for a 7-5 score.
The Tigers got the run back in the top of the eighth with a solo home run by Mansell. ECU also added a second run in the inning to increase the lead to 9-5.
Crone, Dimitroff and Tremblay singled allowing sophomore
Dakota Washington to earn an RBI with a sacrifice fly.
The Savage Storm kept fighting and cut the lead to one (9-8) with three runs in the bottom of the eighth.
Southeastern' s defense kept the Tigers from scoring in the top of the ninth and then the offense went to work and tied the game at nine, forcing extra innings.
The Tigers were not able to get a runner on base in the top of the tenth, but the Savage Storm used two singles and a sacrifice bunt to put the game-winning run across the plate, with a 10-9 final.
ECU will not get ready to host Henderson State, March 23-24 at Ken Turner Field. A single game is set for Friday, March 23 at 2 p.m. and a doubleheader Saturday, March 24 starting at noon.
