ADA, Okla. – The East Central University softball team kicked off their home season with a doubleheader against Newman University on Saturday at Tiger Softball Field. After an 11-8 victory in the first game, the Tigers' comeback in game two fell short, leading to a 3-2 defeat and a split for the day.
 
GAME 1 | ECU 11, Newman 8
Newman came out strong in the first game, taking a 3-0 lead with three runs on three hits. But ECU responded quickly in the bottom of the first, with Amiah Galcatcher delivering a two-run home run to cut the deficit to 3-2.
 
The Jets extended their lead to 4-2 in the second inning with a home run of their own, but the Tigers came alive in the bottom of the second, scoring five runs on five hits. McKinley Feazle's RBI single brought in Brooklyn Charnock, and the Tigers capitalized on a wild pitch and a catcher's error to take their first lead, 5-4. After Carsyn Cox was hit by a pitch, she stole second and advanced to third on another Newman error, allowing Feazle to score. Elyse LeClair then singled to center, and another outfield error allowed Cox to cross the plate, giving ECU a 7-4 lead.
 
Newman battled back, though, scoring a run in the third and two in the fourth to tie the game at 7-all. But ECU quickly regained the lead with a solo homer by Jami Watson to put the Tigers up 8-7.
 
The Jets went down quietly in the fifth inning, and the Tigers added to their lead with an RBI single from Feazle and a sacrifice fly from LeClair, making it 10-7. Newman responded with a run in the top of the sixth, but Caton Muncy's homer in the bottom of the inning extended the Tigers' advantage to 11-8, sealing the victory.
 
Lindsey Mauppin earned her third straight win, coming in as relief and tossing 4.2 innings while allowing three runs on six hits. Several Tigers had multi-hit performances, including LeClair, Watson, Charnock, Fleming, and Feazle, who each had two hits. Galcatcher and Muncy hit their first home runs of the season, while Watson picked up her second.
 
GAME 2 | ECU 2, Newman 3
The second game saw a slower start for the Tigers, as they struggled to find their rhythm early. Newman took a 1-0 lead in the first inning and added another run in the fourth before extending their lead to 3-0 in the sixth.
 
The Tigers mounted a late rally in the final inning. Jaicee Stott and Galcatcher singled, and Watson drew a walk to load the bases. Muncy's RBI single plated LeClair, and a dropped third strike allowed Charnock to score Galcatcher, bringing the Tigers within one. However, the comeback fell short as a groundout ended the inning, and ECU dropped the second game 3-2.
 
Amera Garner took the loss after pitching six innings and allowing three runs on seven hits. Galcatcher went 3-for-3 at the plate, while Stott added two hits.
 
The ECU softball team will return to action on Monday, Jan. 17, hosting Southwestern College for a doubleheader at 1 and 3 p.m.