MAGNOLIA, Ark. – The East Central University baseball team played its first two road Great American Conference games of the season, falling in a doubleheader against No. 2 Southern Arkansas University Friday night.
 
Game 1
The Tiger offense was not able to get anything going as the Muleriders had multiple big innings to get out to a commanding lead.
 
ECU's troubles started in the second inning when SAU scored five runs on three hits and four walks.
 
The game got away from the Tigers in the final three innings when the Muleriders added five in the fourth, seven in the fifth, and one in the sixth to complete the 18-0 win.
 
Tanner Collins and Michael Rosario each got a hit.
 
Clayton Solomon took the loss on the mound throwing four innings before Bryce Crawford came in for relief pitching two innings.
 
Game 2
The No. 2 Muleriders pitching staff continued to put the heat on the Tigers as ECU was unable to get anything going at the plate.
 
The Muleriders scored six runs in the first two innings, putting the Tigers in a hole early. The game was close in the middle frames, with ECU starting pitcher Bryan Terry settling down and holding the Muleriders scoreless in the third and fourth. SAU tacked on one run in the fifth and  sixth for the 8-0 lead which proved to be too much for the Tigers to come back from.
 
Nolan Herchock and Kyle Busker each had a hit.
 
Bryan Terry took the loss on the mound, going five complete innings, and giving up six hits with five strikeouts.
 
ECU reliever Ian Mason came in to throw the final inning, giving up one run on two hits.
 
The East Central University baseball team will play the final game of the series Saturday, Feb. 25 with a single game starting at 1 p.m.