ADA, Okla. – The East Central University softball team faced Arkansas Tech in a hard-fought GAC series finale on Saturday at Tiger field. Despite their determination, the Tigers found themselves on the wrong side of a 7-5 (9 innings) defeat in the first game and a 6-3 loss in game two of the doubleheader, resulting in the series defeat.
 
ATU struck early, tallying two runs in the first inning with a blast over the left field fence to lead 2-0. But the Tigers immediately responded in the bottom of the frame, leveling the score at 2-2 courtesy of RBI singles from Rikki Hadley and Megan Lesko.
 
The score remained at a deadlock until ECU broke through in the bottom of the third, with Rikki Hadley registering her second consecutive RBI single to score Cheyenne Adair for the 3-2 lead.
 
However, the Golden Suns responded in the following inning, knotting the score 3-3 with a solo-homer. Two innings later, ATU pulled ahead once again, reclaiming the lead at 4-3.
 
Despite the Tigers' missed opportunity to capitalize a lead-off double from Hadley in the bottom of the sixth, ECU's defense prevented ATU from adding on to their lead in the top of the seventh, giving them hope for a comeback.
 
In a pivotal moment, Emily Bingham stepped up to pinch hit for the Tigers and delivered a game-tying seventh-inning blast over the fence, knotting the score 4-4 and sending the game into extra innings.
 
Neither team could get the job done in the eighth inning, but the top of the ninth saw ATU score three runs on four hits to take a commanding 7-4 lead.
 
Although Elyse LeClair was able to score Zoe Acosta in the bottom of the ninth to cut the deficit to 7-5, their late rally fell short, resulting in the defeat with the series tied at 1-1.
 
Taylor Spence endured a tough-luck loss, pitching 8.2 innings but giving up seven runs on 12 hits and striking out seven.
 
Rikki Hadley led at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two RBIs while Cheyenne Adair was next with two hits in the game.
 
Game two of the doubleheader was similar to the first with ATU taking an early 3-0 lead in the first inning.
 
Megan Lesko put the Tigers first run on the scoreboard with an RBI double to right center to plate Elyse LeClair, but five scoreless innings would go by, leaving less time for ECU to work their way back into the game.
 
In unfortunate timing, the Golden Suns managed to double their runs with a three-run bomb in the seventh inning to break open the game, leading 6-1.
 
Despite the setback, the Tigers rallied in the seventh, beginning with three singles from Gabi Quintanilla, Emily Bingham, and Caton Muncy to load the bases with no outs. Jami Watson's groundout scored Quintanilla before another groundout from Elyse LeClair plated pinch runner Jaicee Stott to narrow the gap 6-3. However, a final out ended the comeback rally, with ATU securing the 6-3 win and 2-1 series victory.
 
Lauren HerrNeckar tossed a complete seven innings game in the circle, allowing six runs, five earned, and nine hits in the loss.
 
Rikki Hadley and Caton Muncy had multi-hits in the game with two apiece while Elyse LeClair, Megan Lesko, Gabi Quintanilla, and Emily Bingham added one each.
 
The ECU softball team will travel to Arkansas for their last road series of the season, taking on Harding University April on 19-20 in Searcy.