BENTONVILLE, ARK. – The East Central University softball team fell 9-6 to No. 7 Southern Arkansas in its first Great American Conference Championship tournament game of 2018 at Tiger Athletic Complex.

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The Tigers (23-29-1) were led by junior Mariah Ewy, who was named to the All-GAC Honorable Mention team and a GAC Elite Scholar-Athlete earlier in the day.  Ewy tallied three hits and two runs, while senior Alissa Taylor added two hits, a run and two RBIs.

The Muleriders (50-7) took an early 3-0 lead after the first inning and then added a run in the third for a 4-0 advantage.

It took until the fifth before ECU was able to get on the board, but they were able to cut the deficit to one (4-3) in the top of the inning.  After the first out, Ewy singled to right and was sent to third when junior Aundrea Hamric doubled.

Taylor then sent both runs home, with a triple, and was able to score on a throwing error for the 4-3 score.

SAU added five more runs to their total in the sixth inning, pushing the lead to 9-3.

The Tigers did not go away quietly, scoring three runs in the seventh inning for the 9-6 final.  Ewy started the inning with a single and was sent to second when Taylor singled.  Sophomore Catherine Barrera was then hit by a pitch to load the bases. 

That allowed freshman Jacey Henry to earn two RBIs with a double.  The final run then scored when senior Claresha Clemons singled.

The Tigers will now wait to see who they will see, Thursday, May 3 at 1 p.m. at Bentonville West High School.  ECU will play the loser of Henderson State and Southern Nazarene at 1p.m.