BENTONVILLE, Ark. – The East Central University softball team kicked off their 2024 tournament schedule on a high note, claiming two victories on the opening day of the Alvy Memorial Classic held in Bentonville, Arkansas. The Tigers began by edging Emporia State 4-3, then went on to dominate Southwest Baptist with a convincing 14-2 win in five innings.
 
ECU (4-3) will wrap up the tournament tomorrow, facing off against two different teams. The first game is against William Jewell College scheduled for 11 a.m., followed by the final game at 1:30 p.m. against Missouri University of Science and Technology.
 
"I am pleased with the way we played today," Head Coach Destini Anderson said. We did a solid job of stringing hots together; that coupled with some timely clutch hits with runners in scoring position gave us a lot of momentum. Our pitching staff had a productive day in the circle and our defense played their part well in the wins. Both games were quality team wins and we are looking forward to continuing to build upon them."

In the day's opening game against Emporia State, the Hornets took an early 2-0 lead after scoring one run in the first and third innings. However, ECU's offense came alive in the bottom of the third, propelling them to a 3-2 lead thanks to Josi Goodman's walk, stolen base, and Megan Lesko's RBI single, followed by hits from Caton Muncy and Jacey Powers. An insurance run in the fifth inning extended ECU's lead to 4-2, and despite a late run from Emporia State, the Tigers held on for the 4-3 victory behind Taylor Spence's complete game performance in the circle.
 
Caton Muncy went 2-for-2 at the plate with one run driven in and one run scored. Jacey Powers also added two hits on the day while driving in a run.
 
In game two, Southwest Baptist tagged the first run of the game, but ECU swiftly responded in the bottom, exploding with four runs in the first inning and never looking back.
 
Elyse LeClair leadoff with a double down the left field line, Megan Lesko followed up with a single to shortstop, and then a drawn walk by Jacey Powers had the bases loaded. Brooklyn Fleming's sac fly to left field scored the Tiger's first run, but Jami Watson's three-run homer ignited the ECU bats, jumping out to a 4-1 lead.
 
The scoring fest continued in the next frame as Lesko hit her third two-run homer of the season to extend the Tigers' lead to five runs. After Jacey Power drew a walk, Brooklyn Flemming cleared the bases with a two-run homer herself, bringing the score to 8-1. An RBI single by Zoe Acosta plated Watson for ECU's ninth run.
 
The Bearcats added one more run in the top of the third inning, but it would stall from there as the Tigers would go on to score four runs in the home half and one last run in the fourth to secure the run-rule victory.
 
Muncy, Acosta, and Adair all collected RBIs in the third while Lindsey Mauppin added one of her own in the fourth to bring the final score to 14-2.
 
Taryn O'Brien picked up her first win of the season, pitching three innings and only allowing two runs on three hits. Amera Garner closed the game with a flawless performance on the mound, preserving ECU's commanding win.