ADA, Okla. – The East Central University softball team wrapped up their series finale against Southern Nazarene University with a split in the Saturday doubleheader, resulting in the series win for the Crimson Storm after losing the opening game on Friday.
 
Despite their setback, the Tigers will look ahead for a non-conference doubleheader against Arlington Baptist on Tuesday, Match 5 at Latte High School.
 
The Tigers bounced back from their series-opening 10-3 loss to the Crimson Storm with a 5-4 win in game two of Saturday's doubleheader.
 
SNU jumped out with an early one-run lead in the first inning, but ECU quickly leveled the score in the home half after Caton Muncy's RBI single drove in Elyse LeClair.
 
Starting pitcher Lauren HerrNeckar delivered a solid performance on the mound, silencing the Crimson Storm's offense for four innings and allowing the Tigers an opportunity to find their rhythm.
 
The Tigers broke through in the second inning with two runs courtesy of Gabi Quintanilla's ground out that scored Jaicee Stott and Jami Watson's hit-by-pitch that plated Josi Goodman for the 3-1 lead. Watson then added on to the ECU advantage with a two-run bomb over the left field fence to stay ahead 5-1.
 
Despite the Tigers building a comfortable lead, SNU managed to put together two runs in the top of the sixth, threatening to stage a comeback. Lindsey Mauppin came in relief on the mound, getting ECU out of the inning without any more damage.
 
The Crimson Storm added one more run in the top of the seventh inning with two outs and two on base, but after Taylor Spence took over the pitching duties, a line out to Elyse LeClair secured the victory for the Tigers.
 
Jami Watson was the only Tiger to collect multiple hits with two while Elyse LeClair, Caton Muncy, Zoe Acosta, and Josi Goodman added one.
 
Lauren HerrNeckar picked up her third win this season while Taylor Spence recorded her first save.
 
Despite the Tigers' effort to secure game one of the doubleheader, ECU found themselves trailing early on in the series finale, which proved to be too much to come back from.
 
SNU got their bats going quick, adding three runs and never looking back.
 
The Crimson Storm put up runs in all five innings, continuing to score two more in the second, seven in the third, one in the fourth, and two in the fifth en route to their 15-3 win.
 
The Tigers three runs came in the bottom of the fourth inning, beginning with an RBI single from Zoe Acosta followed by Cheyenne Adair's two-run homer that bounced off the glove and over the fence of the SNU left fielder.
 
Elyse LeClair, Megan Lesko, Zoe Acosta, and Cheyenne Adair each had one hit.
 
Taryn O'Brien got the start and took the loss in her 1.1 inning outing, with Amera Garner, Alyssa Charter-Smith, and Taylor Spence making relief appearances.