MONTICELLO, Ark. – The East Central University softball team split the first two games of the three-game Great American Conference series at Arkansas-Monticello.  The Tigers (9-12, 5-10 GAC) picked up a 5-1 win in the opener and then saw the Cotton Blossoms (6-11, 6-10 GAC) claim a 6-5, eight-inning, victory in the second.

Game 1 – ECU 5, UAM 1
ECU Lineup

1. Fr. Gabi Quintanilla (2B)
2. RFr. Megan Lesko (3B)
        Fr. Cheyenne Adair (PR)
3. RJr. Tatiana Bryant (1B)
4. RFr. Kaleigh Ham (RF)
5. RSo. Rachelle Mengwasser (C)
6. Fr. Josi Goodman (SS)
7. Fr. Jayna Reid (LF)
8. RJr. Charley Avery (CF)
9. RFr. Miranda Garza (DP)
        Fr. Hannah Hurtz (PR)
   Jr. Taia Harris (P)

UAM Lineup

1. Katelynn Stamper (2B)
2. Bailey Camp (SS)
3. Grace Neal (3B)
4. Caroline Tedder (1B)
5. Mahayla Mitchell (LF)
6. Madison Morrissey (RF)
7. Haley Cornell (DP)
8. Sierra Gasca (CF)
9. Haley Godeaux (C)
   Maddie Chalenburg (P)

Of Record

• Winning Pitcher: T. Harris (4-0)
• Losing Pitcher: M. Chalenburg (1-4)

Scoring

• ECU 3^rd – G. Quintanilla singled to LF, RBI; C. Avery scored (ECU 1, UAM 0)
• ECU 3^rd – M. Lesko homered to LF, 2 RBI; G. Quintanilla scored (ECU 3, UAM 0)
• UAM 3rd – 1 Run, 1 Hit, 1 Error, 0 Left on Base (ECU 3, UAM 1)
• ECU 5^th- C. Adair stole third, scored on E2, unearned (ECU 4, UAM 1)
• ECU 7^th – M. Lesko KS, out at first; H. Hurtz scored (ECU 5, UAM 1)

Game 2 – UAM 6, ECU 5 (8)
ECU Lineup

1. Hannah Hurtz (RF)
2. Megan Lesko (3B)
        Cheyenne Adair (PR)
3. Tatiana Bryant (1B)
4. Rachelle Mengwasser (C)
        Kaleigh Ham (PH)
5. Fr. Lauren Ham (DP)
        Fr. Rikki Hadley (PH)
        RFr. Adrianna Swann (PR)
        Jayna Reid (PH/LF)
6. Charley Avery (CF)
7. RFr. Madison Postier (2B)
        Gabi Quintanilla (PH/2B)
8. Fr. Whitney Kimberlin (LF)
        Josi Goodman (PH)
9. RFr. Vanessa Tamayo (SS)
   Fr. Lauren HerrNeckar (P)
        Fr. Taryn O'Brien (P)
        Taia Harris (P)

UAM Lineup

1. Katelynn Stamper (2B)
2. Sierra Gasca (CF)
3. Grace Neal (3B)
        Hannah Holdbrook (PR)
4. Haley Cornell (DP)
5. Alexis Pevehouse (1B)
        Caroline Tedder (PH/1B)
6. Madison Morrisey (RF)
7. Haley Godeaux (C)
8. Bailey Camp (SS)
9. Sydney Webster (LF)
        Mahayla Mitchell (PH)
   Jamie Franks (P)

Of Record

• Winning Pitcher: J. Franks (3-4)
• Losing Pitcher: T. O'Brien (0-3)

Tiger Quick Hits

• RFr. Megan Lesko led the team at the plate
  • .625 batting avg., 1 run, 5 hits, 1 double, 1 home run, 3 RBIs, 1-of-1 stolen bases, 3 putouts, 5 assisted outs
• RFr. Gabi Quintanilla added a .500 batting avg.
  • 1 run, 3 hits, 1 double, 2 RBIs, 1 putout
• Jr. Taia Harris and Fr. Taryn O'Brien saw most of the action on the mound
  • Harris: 1-0, 2 appearances, 1 game started, 1 complete game, 7.2 IP, 3 hits and 1 run (0 earned) allowed, 5 Ks, .120 opponent batting avg.
  • O'Brien: 1 appearance, 6.1 IP, 7 hits and 3 runs (2 earned) allowed, 1 K, .280 opponent batting avg.
• ECU added three stolen bases to their season total – 67
  • Ranks No. 3 on the ECU Career Single Season Top-10 list
    • No. 2 – 71 (2015)
    • No. 1 – 78 (2014)
  • ECU is ranked No. 3 in the NCAA for the 2021 season
    • Just 9 stolen bases off the NCAA Leader (Illinois-Springfield)

Up Next

• The teams will wrap up the three-game series, Saturday, March 27
  • Single game at 10 a.m.
• ECU will then get ready to host Southwestern Oklahoma State
  • April 1-2 at Tiger Field