ADA, Okla. – The East Central University baseball team played its first Great American Conference game of the 2023 campaign, falling 11-8 to Arkansas-Monticello at Ken Turner Field.
 
ECU is now 2-6 on the season and 0-1 in conference play.
 
Monticello opened the scoring in the first, taking advantage of a couple of Tiger miscues to jump out to a quick 3-0 lead.
 
ECU responded in the bottom of the frame to get right back in the game. 
 
With one out, Nolan Herchock singled to third, Dawerlyn Amancio reached on a fielder's choice, and Herchock scored on a Duncan Key RBI single to left. Tanner Collins drew a walk to load the bases, and Nick Blankenship's 2 RBI single to left center drove in Amancio and Key to tie the game 3-3.
 
UAM regained the lead with single runs in the second and third innings for a 5-3 advantage going into the ECU half of the third. The Tigers would respond yet again when Amancio led off with a single, and Key followed with a single of his own. Collins moved the runners to second and third with a SAC bunt before Blankenship singled to left for his third RBI of the game.  With runners at the corners Blankenship and Key executed a double steal, allowing the Tigers to knot the score at 5-5.
 
After a scoreless fourth, the Tigers took a 6-5 lead in the fifth when Christian Whitaker tripled to deep right, driving in Tucker Abney who had reached on a walk. 
 
UAM would not go away, putting together a four run rally to regain the lead at 9-6.
 
The Tigers added runs in the eighth and ninth, but the Boll Weevils were able to prevail by a final score of 11-8.
 
Starting pitcher Carson Thomas had a no-decision in his conference opening start throwing four innings, allowing seven hits and just one earned run.
 
Kort McCurtain relieved Thomas and threw 1.2 innings, giving up four runs on three hits, and was tagged with the loss. Kaleb Dent came on in the sixth, giving up two runs on four hits.
 
The East Central University baseball team will wrap up the series with Arkansas-Monticello Saturday, Feb. 17, with a doubleheader starting at 12:00 p.m.