ADA, OKLA. – The East Central University softball team dropped two games to Northwestern Oklahoma State in the first games of the year at Tiger Field.  The Tigers (10-10, 5-5 GAC) fell 12-10 in the opening game and then 5-1 in the night cap.

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ECU was led by senior Claresha Clemons, who hit .571 for the day, with four hits one run and two RBIs.  Junior Bridget Gleason added five RBIs on one hit and to sacrifice files.

The teams will wrap up the four-game series, Saturday, March 10 starting the double-header at 12 p.m.

NWOSU 12, ECU 10
The Rangers (4-12, 4-7 GAC) were the first to get on the scoreboard, netting three runs in the second.  However, the Tigers quickly responded and tied the game at three in the bottom of the second.

Gleason tied the game with a three-run home run to center field, after Clemons had singled and junior Ellanee Allison was hit by a pitch.
NWOSU then added two runs in the third for a 5-3 advantage.  The Rangers then added two more in the fourth for a 7-3 lead.


ECU was able to plate one run in the fourth to cut the deficit to 7-4.  Senior Alissa Taylor led off the inning with a double and was sent to third when Clemons singled.  That allowed Gleason to earn another RBI with a sacrifice fly.
The Rangers added two more runs in the fifth for a 9-4 lead.

The Tigers fought back in the bottom of the fifth, scoring six runs to take a 10-9 lead.  Junior Aundrea Hamric drew a led off walk and stole second.  Sophomore Catherine Barrera then struck out, but reached because of a dropped ball and bad throw to first.  Barrera then stole second and was sent to third on a wild pitch that allowed Hamric to score.  The second run was then scored when junior Breecia Crawford singled.

Henry kept things alive with a single and Taylor loaded the bases with a single of her own.  That allowed Clemons to earn two RBIs, with a single off the wall in left center.  After the first out and runners on second and third, Gleason sent the tying run across the plate with a sacrifice fly to left.  Junior Mariah Ewy then got the RBI for the go-ahead run with a single to left.

The Rangers then scored three runs in the seventh to take a 12-10 lead.  The Tigers were then only able to get one runner on base in the bottom of the seventh, before fall 12-10.

NWOSU 5, ECU 1
The Rangers took an early 1-0 advantage in the first inning and held the Tigers scoreless through the second inning, while adding a run in the second to lead 2-0.

ECU cut the deficit in half in the third, for a 2-1 score.  Taylor reached on a fielder's choice and was sent to second when Crawford singled to right.  Henry then hit a line-drive single to right that scored Taylor from second.

The score remained at 2-1 through the sixth inning, when the Rangers added three more runs for a 5-1 advantage.  The Tigers could not get a run across the plate in the bottom of the inning for the 5-1 final.