ARKADELPHIA, ARK. – The East Central University softball team split the final two games of the Great American Conference series at Henderson State. The Tigers (14-16, 9-11 GAC) fell 1-0 in the opening game of the day before taking the final game of the series 4-2.
ECU was led by sophomore
Catherine Barrera, who hit .400 for the day, with two hits a run and an RBI.
Sophomore
Caitlin Kneblik picked up the win and freshman
Jessica Sisemore the save in the circle. Kneblik threw the first five innings of game two, allowing 10 hits and two runs. Sisemore finished the game and allowed non hits or runs.
The Tigers will return home for the next GAC series, March 29-30 at Tiger Field. Thursday's doubleheader is set to begin at 2 p.m. and Friday's at noon.
ECU 4, HSU 2
The Reddies (18-13, 10-10 GAC) took the first lead of the game, earning two runs in the bottom of the third for a 2-0 advantage.
After the fourth, the Tigers got their bats going and took a 3-2 lead. Junior
Mariah Ewy started the inning with a single to center and was sent around when junior
Ellanee Allison hit a home run to left field. Barrera kept the inning going with a single and was sent to third when freshman
Meagan Dake singled.
Freshman
Tarah Hilton then hit into a fielder's choice that took out Dake, but allowed Barrera to score for the 3-2 score.
ECU added to the advantage in the sixth with a single run. Senior
Claresha Clemons started with a single and Ewy used a sacrifice bunt to get her to second. Clemons was then able to score when Barrera doubled down the left line for a 4-2 lead.
The Reddies had a chance to score in bottom of the sixth, with runners getting to first and second, but the Tigers defense held strong to keep the lead at 4-2.
Both teams then kept each other from scoring in the seventh for the 4-2 final.
HSU 1, ECU 0
The opening game of the day was a pitching duel, with no team scoring until the seventh inning. Both teams had just two runners left on base through the game, with the Tigers earning two hits to the Reddies six.
HSU was able to avoid extra innings with two singles and a walk in the bottom of the seventh to score the winning run.