ADA – The East Central University softball team split the final two games of the Great American Conference series against Arkansas Tech, picking up a 3-2 win in game one and then falling 12-8 in the final game of the day.

The Tigers (15-19, 10-15 GAC) were led by senior Alissa Taylor and sophomore Catherine Barrera.  Taylor went 3-for-3 in a single game on the day, with two home runs a single, walk and four RBIs.  Barrera added a .571 average, four hits, four runs, a home run and an RBI.

Freshman Jessica Sisemore picked up the win in the circle and freshman Angel Stoker earned a save in the opening game of the day.  Sisemore pitched the first 6.1 innings of the game, allowing three hits and two runs, while striking out two.  Stoker pitched to the final two batters of the game and forced both to pop out.

ECU will now get ready for a busy week, staring with a doubleheader at arch rival Southeastern Oklahoma State, Tuesday April 3 starting at 2 p.m. in Durant, Okla.  The Tigers will remain on the road for the weekend GAC series at Harding, April 6-7.

ECU 3, ATU 2
After the Golden Suns (26-10, 17-7) got the scoring started in the first two games of the series a day before, the Tigers were the first to get on the scoreboard in the opening game of the day, scoring two runs in the first inning.

The first batter of the game struck out, but junior Kahlie Barrett got things started with a single to center.  She was followed on base by Barrera (single) and freshman Jacey Henry (fielder's choice) to load the bases.  That gave junior Ellanee Allison a chance to get an RBI with a sacrifice fly to left.  The second run then scored when junior Breecia Crawford singled to right.

ATU cut the disadvantage in half in the second, but ECU got the run back in the third on a solo home run from Barrera for a 3-1 lead.

In the sixth, the Golden Suns were again able to get one run across the plate to cut the disadvantage to 3-2.  ATU was then able to get two runners on the in the top of the seventh, but the Tiger defense held strong to allow ECU to claim the 3-2 victory.

ATU 12, ECU 8
The Tigers took an early 1-0 lead in the first when Taylor hit a solo home run to right center.

Taylor added three more runs to the scoreboard for ECU in her next at bat, with a three-run home run to center field.  Taylor sent in Barrera and Crawford who has both singled.

The Golden Suns cut the deficit in half in the top of the next inning and three more in the fifth to take a 5-4 lead.

The lead was short lived as ECU tied the game at five in the bottom of the fifth.  Crawford started the inning by reaching second because of a dropped ball in center field.  Taylor and Allison were then walked to load the bases.  That allowed junior Mariah Ewy to earn an RBI with a single to right.

The Tigers then regained the lead in the sixth inning, 8-5.  Barrera and Taylor singled and were sent around when Henry hit a home run to center field.

However, ATU was not done scoring and put together a seven-run seventh inning to gain a 12-8 advantage.  ECU got one runner on base in the bottom of the seventh, but was not able to score and fell 12-8.