ADA, Okla. – The East Central University baseball team hosted Oklahoma Baptist University for a midweek nonconference showdown on Tuesday at Ken Turner Field. The Tigers, riding the momentum of a victorious weekend series, triumphed the Bison 9-6 after a five-run explosion in the eighth inning, propelling them to the win.
 
With the victory, ECU improves its overall record to 8-26 and extends its winning streak to four games—a feat not achieved since the shortened 2020 COVID season.
 
Next up, the Tigers will focus on their Great American Conference series against Southern Nazarene University, scheduled for Sunday, April 6 and Monday, April 7.
 
ECU struck early in the first inning as Christian Fernandez's fielder's choice grounder forced an error by the Bison, allowing Tyler Akers and Zac Carroll to score, giving the Tigers a 2-0 advantage.
 
Oklahoma Baptist responded in the second inning with a bases-loaded walk, then seized their first lead of the game in the fifth with two more runs, taking a 3-2 edge. However, Mason Shimkus quickly answered for ECU, leading off the bottom of the fifth with a solo home run to left field, his first of the season, to tie the game at 3-all.
 
The Bison took a 5-3 lead in the seventh inning, adding two more runs. But the Tigers closed the gap in the bottom of the inning with Zac Carroll's RBI double, trimming the deficit to 5-4.
 
After the ECU pitching staff retired the Bisons in the top of the eighth, the Tigers erupted in the bottom half. They strung together five runs on five hits to take control of the game. Ethan Rone's sacrifice fly scored Christian Fernandez to even the score at 5-5 and Bennie Qualls then scored on a wild pitch to give ECU the lead at 6-5. Weldon Sherrell followed with a two-RBI double, clearing the bases, and Zac Carroll added another RBI double to extend the lead to 9-5.
 
Oklahoma Baptist managed to score one more run in the ninth, but the Tiger defense held strong to seal the 9-6 win, marking their fourth consecutive victory.
 
The ECU pitching staff executed its strategy of rotating pitchers every inning, with appearances from Carson Padgett, Trace McDaniels, Tate Rico, Jagger Green, Cayden Blanton, Jacob Poff, Andrew Black, Ryan Dembroski, and Cameron Ebert. Dembroski earned his first win of the season, closing out the eighth inning with no runs or hits allowed. The Tigers' pitchers combined for eight strikeouts.
 
Weldon Sherrell led the offensive charge, going 4-for-5 with two RBIs. Zac Carroll contributed with two RBIs and two doubles, while Mason Shimkus added two hits, including his first home run of the season.