WICHITA, Kansas – The East Central University softball team traveled to Wichita, Kansas, for a pair of nonconference makeup games against Newman University, downing the Jets 7-3 in game one before closing the doubleheader with a 12-1 victory in five innings.
Game 1
After a slow start, ECU would strike first in the top of the third with an RBI double from
Megan Lesko to drive in Goodman for the 1-0 lead.
An inning later, the Tigers had a big, two-out rally to score three runs on three hits and one walk to push the lead to 4-0.
Jayna Reid led off the fourth with a walk before advancing to second and third from two Tiger groundouts. With two outs, Reid scored on an RBI single by
Vanessa Tamayo, and then
Josi Goodman doubled to left field to get Tamayo to third base.
Elyse LeClair followed with a 2 RBI triple to drive in Goodman and Tamayo.
Starting pitcher
Taryn O'Brien held the Jets scoreless for three innings, giving up only one hit and one walk.
The Jets answered back, though, managing to tab two runs in the home half of the fourth and one in the fifth to cut the deficit to 4-3.
The Tigers responded in the top of the seventh as back-to-back doubles from Lesko and Quintanilla and a single by
Jami Watson collected the first two Tiger runs. Reid then singled, Ricky Hadley drew a walk, and a pinch-running
Cheyenne Adair advanced to third to make the bases loaded.
Zoe Acosta followed with a hit by pitch to let Adair trot home for the 7-3 victory.
Lesko and Goodman each collected two hits, while LeClair, Quintanilla, Watson, Reid, and Tamayo had one.
Taryn O'Brien got the win, pitching 3 1/3 innings and giving up two runs on three hits.
Lauren HerrNeckar picked up the save throwing 3 2/3 innings in relief and giving up one run on six hits.
Game 2
ECU exploded in the second inning, sending 11 hitters to the plate and tabbing five runs for the early lead.
Kenzie Lasker singled,
Jayna Reid doubled, and
Vanessa Tamayo was hit by pitch to load up the bases quickly.
Miranda Garza's 2 RBI single scored pinch-running
Adrianna Swann and Reid before a 2 RBI single from
Elyse LeClair brought Garza and Tamayo across home plate.
Gabi Quintanilla then drove in Adair, who was hit by pitch, on a sac fly to go up 5-0.
The Tigers kept the bats hot in the third inning, adding four more runs to the board.
Swann reached first on an error, Reid singled to left, and Tamayo's RBI double scored Swann. Garza then hit a three-run bomb to clear the bases and push the Tiger lead to 9-0.
Newman was able to score their solo run in the bottom of the fourth, but that would be as far as they got.
ECU rallied one last time in the fifth when Adair was hit by pitch, LeClair reached on an error, and Lesko hit a 2 RBI single to extend the lead 11-0. After a few defensive substitutions by the Jets,
Rachelle Mengwasser singled, Lasker drew a walk, and Lesko advanced to third to load the bases. Reid drew the final walk to drive in Lesko and close out the game 12-1 in five innings.
In the finale, the Tigers collected 11 hits, led by Reid, Tamayo, and Garza with two apiece. LeClair, Lesko, Quintanilla, Mengwasser, and Lasker each added one.
Taylor Spence picked up the win throwing 3 2/3 innings, giving up only one run on six hits.
Lauren HerrNeckar also threw 1 1/3 innings giving up one hit and no runs.
The East Central University softball team will resume GAC play with a series matchup against Southern Nazarene University March 3-4.
