DURANT, Okla. – The East Central University softball team made a swift trip south to face off against rivals Southeastern Oklahoma State University in their opening series doubleheader on Tuesday. Unfortunately, the Tigers fell 0-6 in the first game and dropped a heart breaking 7-6 decision in game two after the Storm mounted a comeback and walked it off to secure the series win.
 
ECU will look to bounce back and claim a victory in the series when they return to Tiger Softball Field on Tuesday, April 8.
 
GAME 1 | ECU 0, SE 6
Game one saw a pitcher's duel early on, with neither team able to break through in the first three innings. Both teams notched their first hits in the third inning but failed to push a run across.
 
The turning point came in the fourth, when SE exploded for five runs on just two hits. A three-run home run put SE ahead, and two wild pitches added to their lead. They tacked on an insurance run in the sixth, while ECU could muster just two more hits in the final innings, unable to score and losing the opener.
 
Taylor Spence started in the circle, tossing 3.1 innings and taking the loss after surrendering five runs on three hits. Lindsey Mauppin came on in relief, throwing 2.2 innings, allowing one run on four hits.
 
Elyse LeClair, Abbey Strong, and McKinley Feazle each recorded a hit.
 
GAME 2 | ECU 6, SE 7
In game two, the Tigers showed resilience as their offense came to life early. Shayne Roberts gave ECU a 1-0 lead in the first inning with an RBI single to bring in Carsyn Cox.
 
After a scoreless second inning, SE erupted for five runs in the third, including a solo home run and two two-RBI hits, to grab a 5-1 lead.
 
However, ECU responded quickly, narrowing the gap to 5-4 in the third. Roberts' RBI double scored Amiah Galcatcher, and McKinley Feazle's RBI single brought Roberts across. A hit-by-pitch loaded the bases, setting up Carsyn Cox's RBI single up the middle.
 
The Tigers tied the game at 5-5 in the sixth with a sacrifice flyout from Feazle that scored Jaicee Stott. After a shutdown inning from the ECU defense, the Tigers took the lead 6-5 in the seventh thanks to an RBI single from Caton Muncy, plating Addisyn Cox.
 
With momentum on their side, ECU was just one out away from a thrilling win. But after back-to-back walks and a hit loaded the bases, a double to right-center scored two runs, sealing a 7-6 walk-off victory for Southeastern.
 
Chloe Williams started in the circle, throwing 1.2 innings and allowing five runs on eight hits. Brooklyn Charnock provided solid relief, limiting SE to just two runs on three hits over five innings, but ultimately took the loss.
 
Shayne Roberts had a standout performance, going a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate, while Carsyn Cox and McKinley Feazle each recorded two hits.