SEARCY, ARK. – The East Central University softball team swept the final two games of the Great American Conference series at No. 19 Harding, giving the Tigers (17-23, 12-18 GAC) their second and third wins over ranked opponents in 2018.

As a team, ECU hit .391 for the day, while only allowing a .228 average by the Bisons (27-13, 19-11 GAC).  The Tigers saw two players hit .800 or better, with sophomore Catherine Barrera netting a .875 average, with seven hits, two runs and an RBI.  Freshman Angel Stoker added a .800 average, four hits and two RBIs.

Freshmen Jessica Sisemore and Jacey Henry earned the wins in the circle, with both earning a 0.00 ERA for the day.  Sisemore took the win in game one, throwing a complete game and strike out one.  She allowed seven hits and five runs, but none of the runs were earned.  Henry finished the second game, allowing three hits and zero runs and recording a strikeout.

ECU will now get ready for a four-game GAC series against Oklahoma Baptist in Ada, April 13-14 at Tiger Field.  Friday's game is scheduled to be the annual Pink Out! game to support breast cancer awareness.

ECU 6, #19 Harding 5
The Bisons took an early 2-0 lead after the first two innings, before allowing the Tigers to cut into the disadvantage.

ECU cut the deficit in half, with a single run in the fourth (2-1).  Junior Bridget Gleason and senior Alissa Taylor both reached due to errors and the bases were loaded when Barrera singled.  That allowed senior Claresha Clemons to earn an RBI with a sacrifice fly to left.
Harding pushed back with two runs in the fourth for a 4-1 lead.  The Tigers again scored a single run in the fifth to make the score 4-2.


Junior Mariah Ewy reached due to an error and advanced to second.  She then crossed the plate when freshman Tarah Hilton singled.

The Bisons countered with a run in the fifth, for a 5-2 lead.  ECU was again able to get a single run in the sixth for a 5-3 score.  Taylor singled, junior Chloe Wigington was walked, Clemons hit into a fielder's choice and Stoker singled up the middle to earn the RBI.

The Tigers were able to keep Harding scoreless in the sixth and came on strong in the seventh, scoring three runs to gain a 6-5 lead. 

Gleason, junior Aundrea Hamric and Taylor singled to load the bases, allowing Barrera to earn an RBI when she hit into a fielder's choice.  Clemons added another run with a single and Stoker singled to reload the bases.  That allowed Ewy to earn the game-winning RBI with a single to center field.

The Bisons got a runner on in the bottom of the seventh, but the final batter hit into a double-play, giving ECU the 6-5 victory.

ECU 3, #19 Harding 2
The Tigers kept the momentum in their favor heading into game two, earning a 2-0 lead with a run in both the first and second innings.

In the first, Barrera and junior Ellanee Allison singled and Hilton was walked to load the bases.  Stoker then earned the RBI with a single to center.

In the second the run was scored when the bases were loaded on a single by Hamric, walk by Taylor and Barrera being hit by a pitch.  Clemons then set the run across with a single to right.

The Bisons were kept scoreless until the fourth and fifth innings when they earned a run in both outings to tie the game at two.

Both teams increased the defense in the remaining two regulation-innings to force extras.  However, it did not take long for the Tigers to regain the lead, scoring a single run in the eighth. 

Wigington singled and was sent to second on a sacrifice bunt.  That put her in scoring position when Taylor singled up the middle.

Harding earned a walk with the first batter in the bottom of the eight, but were only able to get her to second with a sacrifice bunt, giving the Tigers the 3-2 victory.