EDMOND, Okla. – The East Central University softball team split a pair of games on Friday on the final day of the Raising Cane's Softball Festival, falling to Fort Hays State University by a final score of 9-4 before defeating Northeastern State University 4-2 at Gerry Pinkston Stadium.
 
The Tigers improve to 7-6 overall heading into their first GAC series of the 2024 season beginning Friday, Feb. 23 in Magnolia, Ark.
 
Fort Hays grabbed an early lead by scoring two runs in the bottom of the first inning. However, ECU responded in the third inning, scoring three runs to take a brief lead. Josi Goodman singled to left center and was later brought home on Caton Muncy's RBI single to center field to cut Fort Hays' lead in half 2-1. Jami Watson then followed with a 2 RBI double to plate Megan Lesko and Muncy for the 3-2 advantage.
 
Despite their effort, Fort Hays surged ahead in the home half of the third inning with seven runs on five hits to propel ahead 9-3. Fort Hays would not score the remainder of the game, but with ECU only adding one more run in the sixth inning off of Zoe Acosta's groundout, it was not enough to come back from, resulting in the 9-4 loss.
 
Caton Muncy led the Tigers at the plate, going 2-for-4 while Elyse LeClair, Jami Watson, Gabi Quintanilla, and Josi Goodman had one hit each. Watson, Muncy, and Acosta all had an RBI.
 
Taryn O'Brien got the start on the mound but also took the loss, throwing 2.1 innings allowing eight runs on seven hits.
 
Despite the loss, ECU bounced back in the second game against Northeastern, jumping out to an early 3-0 lead in the first inning. Caton Muncy's RBI single through the left side drove in Elyse LeClair before a double from Zoe Acosta plated Muncy for the Tigers' first two runs. After Emily Bingham reached on a throwing error by the Riverhawks, Acosta hurried home for the 3-0 lead.
 
With Northeastern unable to put together any runs through the first few frames, ECU added an insurance run in the third inning with Acosta's second RBI of the game to drive in Lesko, extending the Tigers lead to four.
 
Although the Riverhawks got on the board with one run in the fourth inning and one in the seventh to threaten a comeback, Taylor Spence owned the circle, sealing the final out with a backward K to win 4-2.
 
Zoe Acosta led the offense going 2-for-3 at the plate and collecting two RBIs while Elyse LeClair, Caton Muncy, and Jami Watson contributed one hit each.
 
Spence picked up her fourth win of the season pitching a complete game, only allowing two runs on four hits and striking out six.