ADA, OKLA. – After making changes to the 2019 opening tournament, the East Central University softball team will start three days earlier than expected, playing its first game, Tuesday, Feb. 5 at 5 p.m. at Oklahoma Christian. The Tigers will then continue the Edmond Festival, Sunday, Feb. 10 and Monday, Feb. 11.
ECU is set to face Northeastern (3 p.m.) and Rogers State (5 p.m.) at the Oklahoma Christian field, Sunday, Feb. 10. Monday, Feb. 11 will see the Tigers face Washburn (11 a.m.) at OC and then battle at Central Oklahoma (3 p.m.).
PLEASE NOTE THE SCHEDULE UPDATE ABOVE...ALL OF SATURDAY'S GAMES WILL NOW BE PLAYED SUNDAY AND ALL SUNDAY'S GAMES WILL BE PLAYED MONDAY.
ECU was set to face all five opponents last year in the same tournament (Feb. 9-10), but the games against Washburn and UCO were cancelled. However, the Tigers picked up games against UCO and OC, Thursday, Feb. 15. ECU went 3-1 in the four games in 2018, defeating NSU, RSU and OC.
The Tigers, who were picked to finish sixth in the 2019 Great American Conference Preseason Poll, finished 23-30-1 overall and 18-23-1 in league action (8
th) in 2018. ECU returns a total of 12 players from the 2018 roster, with four of those being on the pitching staff. The 2019 roster also includes seven newcomers.
The Tigers top returning batter is junior
Catherine Barrera. She earned a .379 batting average on 55 hits, 28 runs, seven doubles, two triples, three home runs and 15 RBIs. Barrera also recorded a .923 fielding percentage, with 54 putouts, 54 assisted outs and just nine errors.
Sophomore
Jacey Henry was a key player for ECU in the circle and at the plate last season. She went 5-9 in the circle, with a 4.02 ERA, six complete games, two saves, 95.2 innings pitched, 112 hits and 68 runs allowed and 46 strikeouts. She also claimed a .328 batting average, 23 runs, 44 hits, nine doubles, five home runs, 27 RBIs and a perfect fielding percentage (32 putouts, 37 assisted outs, zero errors).
Three of the teams that the Tigers will face this weekend have seen four or less games, played in the all-time series. Washburn and ECU have battled four times, with each earning two wins all at neutral sites. The Tigers are 3-0 (all neutral) against Rogers State and 1-1 against Oklahoma Christian (all at Tiger Field).
Northeastern State and ECU have faced each other 48 previous times, with the RiverHawks earning a 28-20 advantage overall and the Tigers leading 2-0 when playing at neutral sites. Central Oklahoma at ECU have played 51 previous games, with ECU trailing 18-33 overall and 8-18 when playing at UCO.
