ADA, Okla. – The East Central University softball team finished its home portion of the 2023 season and honored Kaleigh Ham, Taia Harris, Rachelle Mengwasser, and Vanessa Tamayo on the annual Senior Day.  The Tigers fell 5-2 to Harding University after a late lead got away from ECU to end the game in nine innings.
 
With one week left to go in the regular season, the Tigers are now 18-26 overall and 11-19 in conference play.
 
Despite the 5-2 end result, the series finale was much tighter and more of a pitcher's duel than game one, as both teams combined for just two runs and six hits through the first four innings.
 
Harding opened up the game with the first run, but ECU quickly bounced back with a run of their own thanks to Gabi Quintanilla's RBI single that drove in Elyse LeClair to knot the game 1-1.
 
The score would remain at a deadlock for three straight frames as neither side could bring their base runners around to score.
 
The Tigers took the lead in the fifth inning after Vanessa Tamayo led off with a double to right field before Megan Lesko sent one through to the outfield to plate Tamayo for the 2-1 advantage.
 
ECU retired Harding's next three batters and looked to do it again in the top of the seventh until the Bisons managed to sneak in the tying run and force the extra innings.
 
One scoreless inning went by before the Bisons exploded for three runs on five hits to break the game open.
 
The Tigers could not rally back in the home half, though, and Harding completed the series sweep with a 5-2 win.
 
The East Central University softball team will travel to Arkansas for their final GAC road series of the regular season starting Friday, April 28 at 1:00 p.m.