ALVA, Okla. – The East Central University softball team traveled to Alva, Oklahoma for the opening day of its three-game series with GAC opponent Northwestern Oklahoma State University, falling 9-5 to the Rangers on Thursday evening.
 
ECU struck the board first with a run in the opening inning after Megan Lesko blasted one over the left field wall to put the Tigers up 1-0, but NWOSU answered back with a run of their own in the home half to tie the game 1-1.
 
The second inning was quiet before the Rangers took a 3-1 lead in the third with a two-run homer and eventually stretched it to 5-1 by the end of the fourth inning.
 
The Tigers found the board again in the fifth after an RBI single from Lesko sent Elyse LeClair home to cut the deficit to 5-2.
 
However, a big four runs on four hits from the Rangers in the sixth extended their lead to 9-2 heading into the final inning.
 
ECU put on the pressure in the seventh as Kaleigh Ham led off with a solo homer to center field before Lesko homered for the second time in the game, sending LeClair across home plate with her, who singled up the middle earlier.
 
The comeback effort wasn't enough, though, and the game one score would settle at 9-5.
 
Taia Harris took the loss in the circle, pitching 3.2 innings and allowing five runs on seven hits. Taylor Spence came in relief, going 2.1 innings while giving up four runs on four hits.
 
Megan Lesko dominated at the plate, going 4-for-4, including two home runs and four RBI's. Elyse LeClair was next with three hits, while Gabi Quintanilla picked up two, and Kaleigh Ham had one.
 
The East Central University softball team will finish out the series with Northwestern Oklahoma State University in a doubleheader on Friday starting at 12 p.m.