ADA, Okla. – The East Central University softball team swiftly rebounded from last night's setback with a 6-5 walk-off win over Arkansas Tech University in the opening game of the Great American Conference series on Friday. Megan Lesko called game for the Tigers, delivering a clutch single to left center in the bottom of the seventh, sealing the victory in thrilling fashion.
 
ECU will wrap up the series with ATU in a doubleheader at Tiger Field tomorrow starting at noon.
 
The Tigers' offense did not waste any time igniting the scoreboard, opening the game with five runs on five hits and capitalizing on one error in the first inning.
 
Elyse LeClair set the tone with a lead-off double while Jami Watson drew a walk to put the Tigers in scoring position. Caton Muncy then ignited the rally with an RBI single to right field, promptly followed by Rikki Hadley's RBI single, extending ECU's lead to 2-0. After Megan Lesko reached on an ATU error to load the bases, Gabi Quintanilla capitalized on the opportunity, driving in Muncy with a hit to right field, pushing the Tigers' advantage to 3-0. Josi Goodman capped off the rally with a 2 RBI blast into left field, plating Hadley and Lesko for a commanding 5-0 lead.
 
While Taryn O'Brien had a strong start in the circle, allowing just one hit and recording four strikeouts in three innings, ATU's bats started connecting in the fourth, tallying two runs on four hits to narrow the gap 5-2.
 
The Golden Suns carried that momentum into the next frame, notching three singles to load the bases with one out. After a drawn walk brought Amera Garner in for relief, another bases-loaded walk and a sacrifice fly helped ATU claw back, leveling the score at 5-5 before Lindsey Mauppin prevented further damage.
 
The final frames saw both teams threatening to score, with ATU even having runners on second and third base in the top of the seventh. However, the Tiger defense held firm allowing them to put the game to rest in the home half.
 
Jami Watson kick-started the decisive inning with a single to center field, advancing to second on Caton Muncy's sacrifice bunt, and then to third base on Rikki Hadley's fielder's choice. Then, Megan Lesko came in clutch with a walk-off single to finish the job and secure game one of the series.
 
Elyse LeClair, Caton Muncy, Emily Bingham, and Josi Goodman led the offensive charge with two hits apiece while Jami Watson, Rikki Hadley, and Megan Lesko contributed one.
 
Lindsey Mauppin picked up her first win in the circle, holding ATU to no runs and just two hits in 2.1 innings of stellar relief pitching.