ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – The East Central University baseball team dropped the series finale to Henderson State University, 6-3, on Monday afternoon at Clyde Berry Field, falling to 1-2 in GAC play after the opening weekend of conference action.
 
Next up, ECU will prepare to host Ouachita Baptist University in a three-game series at home on Feb. 22-23.
 
After a quick three-up, three-down inning for the Tigers, the Reddies quickly took control with a three-run homer, setting the tone for the game. HSU extended their lead to 5-0 with another two-run homer in the third.
 
Despite a strong offensive showing in the series-opening doubleheader, the ECU bats were quieted in the finale, as the Tigers didn't record their first hit until the top of the sixth inning. Mason Shimkus led off with a double to left field, followed by Tyler Akers' sacrifice bunt to advance Shimkus to third. Trace Necessary then drove in Shimkus with an RBI single to left, putting the Tigers on the board at 5-1.
 
Henderson State tacked on an insurance run in the seventh, while ECU's offense struggled to find any momentum until their final opportunity in the ninth. Back-to-back singles from Weldon Sherrell and Necessary set up Ryan Strickland's RBI single to score Sherrell, bringing the Tigers within 6-2. A groundout double play allowed Necessary to cross the plate, cutting the deficit to 6-3, but a final strikeout sealed the game and handed ECU the series loss.
 
Jeremy Slate started and took the loss, pitching 3.0 innings while giving up five runs on four hits. Cal Birchfield delivered a solid 4.2 innings of relief, limiting HSU to one run on two hits. Nate Windle closed out the game with the final out.
 
Necessary led the offense with two hits and an RBI, while Sherrell, Strickland, and Shimkus each contributed one hit.