BRANSON, MO - The East Central University softball team kicked off their 2025 season in Branson, Missouri, at the Branson Lead-Off Classic on Friday. The Tigers finished the day with a split in their doubleheader, winning the opener against the University of Minnesota Crookston, 10-8, before falling to Truman State University, 6-5, in a close game decided in the final inning.
 
Despite the cold, misty, and overcast conditions, ECU played through the challenging weather and showcased some promising moments to start the year.
 
GAME 1 | ECU 10, UMC 8
The Tigers came out strong in their season opener, taking an early 8-2 lead after just two innings.
 
ECU got on the board in the first with Jami Watson's sacrifice fly to left, scoring Elyse LeClair and tying the game at 1-1. After UMC added a run in the next inning, ECU responded with a dominant bottom of the second. The rally began with a bases-loaded RBI single from LeClair, plating Shayne Roberts. Amiah Galcatcher then drew a bases-loaded walk to bring in McKinley Feazle, giving the Tigers their first lead. Brooklyn Charnock's RBI single, a sacrifice fly from Brooklyn Fleming, and a two-RBI single from Roberts extended ECU's advantage to six runs.
 
UMC mounted a comeback in the fourth inning, capitalizing on a few ECU errors and stringing together some key hits to tie the game at 8-8. However, Lindsey Mauppin entered the circle and kept UMC off the board over the final 3.1 innings, while LeClair and Charnock each drove in additional runs, helping secure the 10-8 victory.
 
Mauppin earned the win, tossing 3.1 shutout innings with two hits allowed. LeClair led the way offensively with two hits and two RBIs, while Charnock and Roberts each had a hit and two RBIs. Feazle also contributed with a hit.
 
GAME 2 | ECU 5, TSU 6
In the second game, ECU once again jumped out to an early lead, with Caton Muncy's RBI single scoring Carsyn Cox to make it 1-0 in the first. The Tigers extended their lead in the third, starting with a fielder's choice from Galcatcher that brought in Abbey Strong. Muncy followed with another RBI single, and Roberts crushed a two-RBI double to push ECU ahead 5-1.
 
However, Truman State slowly chipped away at the lead, scoring two runs in both the fourth and fifth innings to tie the game. In the sixth, TSU plated the go-ahead run, taking a 6-5 lead.
 
ECU had a chance to rally in the seventh, with runners on first and second and no outs. But a force out at third and a game-ending double play stopped the Tigers' comeback efforts.
 
Brooklyn Charnock took the loss in the circle, despite limiting the damage after coming in for relief. Chloe Williams started the game, pitching 4.2 innings. Muncy had a standout performance with three hits and two RBIs, while Roberts added a hit and two RBIs.
 
The Tigers will wrap up the Lead-Off Classic with games against Southwest Baptist University and Drury University.