ADA, Okla. – The East Central University baseball team concluded their series against Arkansas Tech University with a doubleheader on Saturday. The Tigers held a lead in the first game but couldn't hold on, suffering a tough 8-5 loss in the final inning before falling 10-1 in the second game, completing the series sweep for ATU.
 
The Tigers will next prepare for a nonconference matchup against Southern Nazarene University in Bethany on Tuesday, March 25.
 
GAME 1 | ECU 5, ATU 8
ECU jumped out to an early lead in the first inning, as Zac Carroll's two-RBI double scored Tyler Akers and Weldon Sherrell. Bennie Qualls followed with a single to bring Carroll home, giving the Tigers a 3-0 advantage. The Tigers extended their lead in the fourth inning when Lucas Barnes cleared the bases with a two-RBI single, making it 5-0.
 
Starting pitcher Cal Birchfield had a solid outing, limiting ATU to just two hits over 6.2 innings while striking out seven batters, keeping the Wonder Boys scoreless for the majority of the game.
 
However, ATU began chipping away at the deficit in the seventh inning, scoring three runs on three hits to close the gap to 5-3. Despite holding off the Wonder Boys for eight innings, ATU exploded in the ninth, plating five runs on three hits to take an 8-5 lead.
 
Logan Jeske and Tyler Akers led off with singles in the bottom of the ninth but could not score, sealing the tough loss for ECU.
 
Joel Hogan pitched 1.2 innings of relief but took the loss, allowing six runs on five hits.
 
Bennie Qualls led the offense, going 2-for-3 at the plate, while Zac Carroll and Lucas Barnes each drove in two RBIs.
 
GAME 2 | ECU 1, ATU 10
The second game of the doubleheader saw the Wonder Boys carry their momentum from the dramatic comeback in game one, while the Tigers struggled throughout.
 
ATU got on the board early, scoring two runs in the first inning. Max Tremblay's RBI single in the bottom of the first got ECU on the scoreboard, trailing 2-1. Unfortunately, that would be the only run the Tigers would manage, as they were shut out for the remainder of the game.
 
The Wonder Boys continued to build on their lead, outhitting the Tigers 17-5. ATU added five runs in the second inning and tacked on one in the third, fourth, and seventh innings to secure a decisive 10-1 win and complete the series sweep.
 
Nate Windle took the loss after starting on the mound, pitching 1.2 innings, striking out four but allowing seven runs on 10 hits. Jeremy Slate and Carson Padgett each pitched 1.0 inning in relief, while Andrew Black finished the final 3.0 innings.
 
Tyler Akers, Weldon Sherrell, Zac Carroll, Max Tremblay, and Bennie Qualls accounted for the Tigers' hits.