ADA – The East Central University softball team fell to No. 19 Harding in the first two games of a four-game Great American Conference series.  The Tigers (15-22, 10-18 GAC) fell 6-5 in the opening game of the day and then 7-2 in the night cap.

ECU was paced by sophomore Catherine Barrera, with a .667 average, four hits and one run.

The teams will wrap up the series, Monday, April 9 with a doubleheader starting at 12 p.m.

No. 19 Harding 6, ECU 4
The Tigers started the scoring with a single run in the fourth, coming off a solo home run by senior Claresha Clemons.

ECU then added two more runs in the fifth for a 3-0 advantage.  Juniors Mariah Ewy and Kahlie Barrett singled and were sent to second and third on a sacrifice bunt from junior Ellanee Allison.  Freshman Tarah Hilton sent both runs across the plate with a single up the middle.

While the Tigers were able to hold off the Bisons in the bottom of the inning, Harding was able to score six in the sixth to take a 6-3 lead.

ECU tried to fight back in the seventh, getting a single run on singles from Allison, junior Aundrea Hamric and senior Alissa Taylor.

No. 19 Harding 7, ECU 2
The Bisons wasted no time getting on the scoreboard in the second game of the day, netting seven runs in the bottom of the first.

The Tigers were held scoreless until the fifth, when they tallied a single run.  The first two outs were recorded when Barrera singled and stole second.  That put her in scoring position when Clemons singled up the middle.

Both teams were scoreless until the top of the seventh, when ECU made one final push. 

After the first out freshman Tatiana Bryant doubled to left and was followed on back by junior Chloe Wigington with a single.  The next batter lined out, but when freshman Jacey Henry reached on an error one run was able to cross the plate, before the second attempt was called out at the plate for the 7-2 final.