ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – The East Central University baseball team traveled to Arkansas for their first Great American Conference series of the 2025 season. Despite a tough 13-11 loss in game one, ECU bounced back in the nightcap to secure an 11-7 victory to split the day's action. Both teams will face off in the rubber match tomorrow, Feb. 17, at 12 pm.
 
ECU's offense seems to be hitting its stride, with 22 total runs on the day and 35 over the last three games. The last time the Tigers won a GAC opening series was in the shortened 2020 season when they claimed a 2-1 series victory over SWOSU.
 
GAME 1 | ECU 11, HSU 13
The Tigers struck first in game one, putting up two runs on three hits in the top of the second inning. Lucas Barnes' RBI double brought in Ethan Rone for ECU's first run, followed by Mason Shimkus, whose RBI double plated Barnes for a 2-0 lead.
 
However, HSU quickly responded in the bottom half of the second, scoring six runs on four hits to take a 6-2 lead. ECU chipped away in the third inning, though, with Ryan Strickland launching a two-run homer over center field to make it 6-4.
 
The Reddies continued to extend their lead with two runs each in the third and fifth innings, pulling ahead 10-4. Despite the deficit, ECU kept fighting, capitalizing on two wild pitches in the sixth to score Trace Necessary and Strickland, trimming the lead to 10-6.
 
HSU added another run in the bottom of the sixth and two more in the seventh, pushing their lead to 13-6. But the Tigers mounted a rally in the eighth, scoring five runs on four hits. Seth Brecheen, Barnes, and Zac Carroll each had RBI singles, and Weldon Sherrell added an RBI groundout to close the gap to 13-11. Despite a late two-out rally, a final groundout ended the game in favor of HSU.
 
Joel Hogan started on the mound and took the loss, while Luke Livian, Cameron Ebert, and Jameson Ross provided relief.
 
Ryan Strickland led the charge at the plate, going 3-for-5 with two RBIs and a home run. Lucas Barnes also had two hits and two RBIs, while Ethan Rone contributed two hits.
 
GAME 2 | ECU 11, HSU 7
ECU came out swinging in game two, taking control early and keeping the pressure on HSU throughout the game.
 
The Reddies struck first with a run in the opening inning, but ECU answered in a big way during the third. ECU exploded for six runs on six hits, taking control of the game. Trace Necessary's two-RBI double down the left field line plated Zac Carroll and Weldon Sherrell to give ECU a 2-1 lead. Ryan Strickland followed with his second two-run homer of the day, pushing the lead to 4-1. Carroll capped off the inning with a two-RBI double, extending the lead to 6-1.
 
HSU responded with two runs in the fourth, but ECU didn't let up, scoring three more in the fifth. Bennie Qualls crossed the plate on a wild pitch, and Carroll added an RBI single to score DeAngelo Morales. Sherrell then singled to left field to bring Carroll home, giving the Tigers a commanding 9-3 lead.
 
The Reddies mounted a late rally, scoring four runs in the bottom of the fifth to pull within two, 9-7. However, ECU added insurance runs in the seventh when Necessary drew a bases-loaded walk, and Strickland singled to left to push the lead to 11-7. Justin Smith closed the door with three straight strikeouts to secure the win.
 
Smith earned his first win of the season, tossing three innings of relief. He allowed just two runs on two hits and struck out five batters.
 
Zac Carroll was dominant at the plate, going 4-for-5 with three RBIs. Trace Necessary and Ryan Strickland also contributed three RBIs each, with Strickland adding his third home run of the season and second of the day.