ADA – The East Central University softball team earned its Great American Conference series sweep, with two wins on day two against Southwestern Oklahoma State.  The Tigers (10-8, 5-3 GAC) first claimed a 13-4 win in six innings and then took a 10-7 victory in the final game of the series.

ECU hit .406 as a team for the day and allowed just a .250 batting average by the Bulldogs (0-16, 0-8 GAC).  The Tigers were led by freshman Jacey Henry who hit .800 for the day, with four hits, five runs, a double, home run and three RBIs.  Junior Breecia Crawford added a .714 average, five hits, five runs, a home run and three RBIs.

Junior Demi Danell and freshman Jessica Sisemore each picked up a win in the circle.  Danell allowed six hits and four runs and struck out two, while Sisemore allowed three hits and five runs.

ECU will now get ready for its first home games of the 2018 season, when they host Northwestern Oklahoma State, March 9-10 at Tiger Field.

ECU 13, SWOSU 4 (6)
The teams held each other scoreless in the first inning, but then got to work in the second, with the Tigers taking a 2-0 lead after the top of the inning.  Henry led off with a single and freshman Tarah Hilton reached due to an error.  Both runners then stole a base, allowing both to score when junior Mariah Ewy singled to right.

The Bulldogs (0-16, 0-8 GAC) responded with a solo home run the bottom of the inning to cut the deficit to one (2-1).

ECU added to its lead in the third, pushing the lead out to 5-1.  Junior Bridget Gleason led off with a single, was sent to second on a single from senior Alissa Taylor and to third when a sacrifice bunt by sophomore Catherine Barrera.

That gave Crawford a chance for an RBI, with a single through the right side.  The final two runs of the inning were sent home when Hilton singled to right field.

The fourth was another scoreless inning for both teams, before the Tigers added five in the sixth for a 10-1 advantage.  Barrera led off the inning with a single and was followed on base when Crawford singled.  Barrera was then able to score when Henry doubled to right center.

After the first out of the inning, junior Ellanee Allison kept things going with a single to score two more runs.  Senior Claresha Clemons then came in as a pinch hitter and earned a two-run home run to left field.
SWOSU fought back in the bottom of the fifth, scoring three runs to cut the disadvantage to 10-4.

ECU added three more runs in the sixth to push the advantage back to 13-4.  Crawford was walked to start the inning and Henry sent two runs home with a home run to left center.  Hilton continued the inning with a double and after two outs, Ewy singled through the right side to score the final run.

The Tigers held SWOSU without a run in the bottom of the inning, putting the run-rule into effect for the 13-4 final.

ECU 10,  SWOSU 7
The Tigers wasted no time getting on top in the second game of the day, scoring four runs in the first.  Taylor led off with a hit by pitch, Crawford singled and Henry walked to load the bases.  The first run came across when Clemons reached on a fielder's choice with everyone left safe. 

A second was added on a ground out by Hilton and the bases were reloaded when Allison was hit.  Henry then scored on a throwing error and a fourth run was added on a double from Ewy.

ECU added another run in the second inning, with a solo home run from Crawford for a 5-0 advantage. 

The Bulldogs fought back in the bottom of the second, scoring three runs to cut the deficit to 5-3.  SWOSU then knotted the game at five with two runs in the fourth.

The Tigers quickly responded and regained the lead in the top of the fifth.  Henry led off the inning with a single and advanced to third on a single from Clemons.  That put two runners in place when Allison hit a home run down the left field line to give ECU an 8-5 lead.

The Tigers kept adding to the scoreboard in the sixth and pushed the lead to 9-5.  Taylor was hit by a pitch to start the inning and sophomore Nikki Herrin, who was a pinch runner, was advanced to second on a passed ball and third on the next batter.  Crawford sent the run home with a single to right.

ECU pushed ahead even more in the top of the seventh, scoring a run for a 10-5 lead. Junior Chloe Wigington started the inning with a single and was sent to second when Allison reached on a fielder's choice.  Both runners then advanced on a wild pitch and Ewy was added to the base path with a walk.

Junior Madison Thompson then hit into a fielder's choice that allowed a run to score.

SWOSU tried to mount a come-back in the bottom of the seventh, but were only able to score two runs for a 10-7 final.