ADA, Okla. – The East Central University softball team will start the 2020 season at the Edmond Regional Festival, Feb. 7-9, co-hosted by Central Oklahoma and Oklahoma Christian.
The Tigers will spend the first two days at Oklahoma Christian and will face Colorado School of Mines (10 a.m.) and Colorado Christian (12 p.m.), Friday, Feb. 7 and then Missouri Southern (12 p.m.) and No. 15 Cameron (6 p.m.), Saturday, Feb. 8.
ECU will then make the short trip to the UCO field, Sunday, Feb. 9 for a 4 p.m. game against No. 7 Central Oklahoma.
Tiger Quick Hits
- The Tigers return seven players (two fielding starters and three starting pitchers) from the 2019 season
- Jr. Tatiana Bryant is the top returning fielder (1B)
- .304 batting avg., 13 runs, 34 hits, 3 doubles, 3 home runs, 19 RBIs, 11 BB, 2 HBP, 4 sacrifice flies, 5 sacrifice bunts, 1-of-1 stolen bases, 251 putouts, 10 assisted outs, .978 fielding pct., 14 double plays
- So. Paige Leschber is the top returning pitcher for ECU
- 3.38 ERA, 9-5 record, 24 appearances, 15 GS, 5 CG, 1 full shutout, 1 assisted shutout, 1 save, 101.1 IP, 97 hits and 63 runs (49 earned) allowed, 66 BB, 53 K, .253 opponent batting avg.
- ECU lost 12 from 2019, including six fielding starters and one starting pitcher
- The Tigers have 14 new faces for 2020
- Two new pitchers, including one lefty
- ECU has made a few changes in the coaching staff
- 2019 Volunteer Assistant Coach Kerry Wilson was named the new full-time assistant coach for 2020
- 2019 Sr. Ellanee Allison has also moved from the field to the coaching staff as a graduate assistant coach
- This is the third season that the Tigers have participated in the Edmond Regional Festival
- 2018: W, 5-1 vs. Northeastern / W, 2-1 vs. Rogers State
- Second day of the tournament cancelled due to weather
- 2019: L, 7-8 at Oklahoma Christian / L, 0-4 vs. Northeastern / L, 3-9 vs. Rogers State / W, 4-3 vs. Washburn / L, 0-7 at Central Oklahoma
Against the Competition
- The game against Colorado School of Mines will be just the second in the all-time series
- ECU leads, 1-0
- Last Meeting: Feb. 5, 2016 – W, 14-6 (N)
- This will be the first meeting with Colorado Christian
- The Tigers hold a 3-0 lead in the all-time series with Missouri Southern, all at neutral sites
- Last Meeting: Feb. 2, 2018 – W, 4-2 (N)
- Bryant is the lone return from the game
- The series with Cameron is one of the longest in school history, dating back to records available starting in 1999
- The Aggies lead 35-19 overall, but the series is tied at one when playing on a neutral field
- Last Meeting: Feb. 2, 2018 – W, 6-5 (N)
- The all-time series with Central Oklahoma also dates back to 1999
- UCO leads 34-18 overall and 19-8 when playing in Edmond
- Last Meeting: Feb. 11, 2019 – L, 0-7 (N)
- Sr. Kaytlyn Kizarr and Bryant are the lone fielding players to see action in the game
- Kizarr: 2 hits,1 stolen base, 1 putout
- Bryant: 1 at bat
- All three returning pitchers saw action in the circle
- Sr. Caitlin Kneblik: Starter (Loss), 4.2 IP, 9 hits and 5 runs allowed, 3 BB, 1 K
- Jr. Jessica Sisemore: 0.1 IP, 1 hit and 2 runs (1 earned) allowed
- Leschber: 1.0 IP, 1 hit allowed
