ADA, Okla. – The East Central University baseball team wrapped up their GAC series against Ouachita Baptist University with a doubleheader on Sunday. Despite getting out to early leads in both games, ECU couldn't hold off Ouachita, falling 14-9 in game one and 7-3 in game two in the series sweep.
 
ECU will look to bounce back with a single game against Southern Nazarene University on Tuesday, Feb. 25, before hosting Northwestern Oklahoma State University in a home GAC series from Feb. 28 to March 1.
 
GAME 1 | ECU 9, OUA 14
ECU got off to a strong start in game one with an RBI single from Zac Carroll that scored Tyler Akers for an early 1-0 lead.
 
Ouachita tied the game in the second inning and took the lead in the third with another run, but ECU responded in the bottom of the third. A two-RBI single from Carroll, followed by a wild pitch that scored Carroll, gave ECU a 4-2 advantage.
 
But the purple Tigers regained the lead in the fourth with three runs, going up 5-4, and then broke the game open in the fifth with a grand slam, pushing the score to 9-4.
 
The orange Tigers fought back in the bottom of the fifth with a clutch three-RBI double by Seth Brecheen to bring ECU within one run at 9-8. However, Ouachita added more insurance in the sixth with a two-RBI single to go back up 11-8.
 
ECU scored another run in the bottom of the sixth thanks to aggressive base running by Akers, but was unable to capitalize further, going scoreless in the final two innings. Ouachita sealed the win in the ninth with a two-run homer and an RBI groundout, finishing the game 14-9.
 
Cal Birchfield started for ECU, tossing 3.2 innings and allowing five runs on four hits in the loss. Justin Smith and Jameson Ross combined for 1.2 innings of relief, while Jeremy Slate finished with 3.2 innings, allowing three runs on four hits while striking out five.
 
Ryan Strickland went 3-for-5 at the plate, while Zac Carroll and Tyler Akers added two hits apiece. Carroll and Seth Brecheen also drove in three RBIs each.
 
GAME 2 | ECU 3, OUA 7
The second game of the day was a pitcher's duel until ECU broke through in the third inning. After singles by Lucas Barnes and Tyler Akers, Weldon Sherrell delivered a two-RBI single, and an RBI single by Seth Brecheen brought in Sherrell, giving ECU a 3-0 lead.
 
The orange Tigers maintained their edge through the fourth inning with a strong defensive effort. However, Ouachita battled back in the fifth, scoring three runs—two on an RBI single and sacrifice fly, and the third on an ECU error—tying the game at 3-3.
 
ECU's offense went cold after that, going three up, three down in the following three innings, while Ouachita continued to build its lead. The purple Tigers took control in the sixth with three runs on three hits, and added an insurance run in the seventh to seal the 7-3 victory.
 
Ezra Gustafson started for ECU and took the loss, pitching five innings while allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits. Cameron Ebert and Beau Driggers each pitched one inning in relief.
 
Zac Carroll went 2-for-3 at the plate, while Weldon Sherrell drove in two RBIs.