ADA, Okla. -  The East Central University baseball team continued their Spring Break home schedule with a Great American Conference series against Arkansas Tech University on Friday. Despite a strong effort from the Tigers to rally and tie the game, the Wonder Boys pulled away late, ultimately securing a 17-6 victory in game one.
 
ECU will look to bounce back in Saturday's doubleheader, starting at 12 p.m., and earn some wins to close out the series.
 
ATU struck first in the opening inning with one run on a single, taking an early 1-0 lead. ECU threatened in the bottom half, loading the bases, but a pickoff ended the inning.
 
The game remained scoreless in the second, but in the third, the Wonder Boys broke open the game with five runs on three hits, extending their lead to 6-0.
 
The Tigers responded, though, with a rally in the bottom of the third. Bennie Qualls delivered a clutch two-RBI double to put ECU on the board before Blake Seefeldt followed with a double to left-center, scoring Qualls. Then, Max Tremblay's RBI single to right field brought Seefeldt home to narrow the deficit to 6-4.
 
ECU continued to battle in the fourth inning, with Qualls contributing another RBI to score Ethan Rone. Zac Carroll's RBI single to right then tied the game at 6-6.
 
However, despite the Tigers finding some rhythm, their offense stalled, while ATU kept adding runs. The Wonder Boys scored three more in the sixth and put the game out of reach with an eight-run eighth inning, ending the game early.
 
Justin Smith started on the mound, going 2.2 innings and allowing six runs (four earned) on four hits while striking out four. Jeremy Slate came in relief, taking the loss after 3.1 innings, allowing three runs on six hits. Cameron Ebert and Tate Rico closed out the final two innings.
 
Tyler Akers went 2-for-2 at the plate, drawing three walks, while Bennie Qualls finished with three RBIs.