MONTICELLO, Ark. – The East Central University softball team wrapped up its final road trip of the regular season with a high-stakes Great American Conference series against the University of Arkansas-Monticello. The Tigers opened the weekend with a thrilling 7-2 comeback win in game one of Thursday's doubleheader, but ultimately split the day with a close 4-2 loss in game two. In a dramatic series finale on Friday, ECU rallied late to take a one-run lead, but UAM walked it off in the bottom of the seventh to claim the series victory.
 
Following the weekend, ECU moves to 17-24 overall and 10-20 in GAC play, while UAM improves to 11-19 in the conference standings as both teams continue to battle for postseason positioning. The Tigers now turn their focus to the final GAC series of the regular season as they prepare to host Henderson State University next week.
 
GAME 1 | ECU 7, UAM 2
The series opener was a pitchers' duel early, with both teams getting on the board in the second inning. ECU capitalized on a Cotton Blossoms error that allowed McKinley Feazle to score, but UAM responded with two runs of their own to take a 2-1 lead—an advantage they would hold until the final inning.
 
Down to their final three outs, the Tigers erupted in the top of the seventh. With the bases loaded, Shayne Roberts delivered the momentum-swinging hit of the game with a bases-clearing triple to give ECU a 4-2 lead. Caton Muncy followed with an RBI single, and Amiah Galcatcher added a two-RBI double to deep left center to blow the game open 7-2 and clinch game one.
 
Chloe Williams went the distance in the circle, earning her fifth win of the season with a 7.0-inning effort, allowing just two runs on seven hits while striking out four.
 
At the plate, Brooklyn Fleming led the way with a 2-for-3 performance. Roberts drove in three RBIs, and Galcatcher added two of her own in the explosive final inning.
 
GAME 2 | ECU 2, UAM 4
The second game of Saturday's twin bill followed a similar script early, with ECU again falling behind as UAM pushed across runs in the first and second innings. The Tigers battled back in the fourth behind a solo home run from Amiah Galcatcher and an RBI single from Addisyn Cox to tie the game at 2-2.
 
UAM quickly reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the inning with a pair of RBI singles, and despite ECU threatening in the sixth with runners in scoring position, they were unable to cash in.
 
Amera Garner got the start and took the loss, allowing four runs on five hits over 4.1 innings.
 
Offensively, Galcatcher remained hot with a 2-for-2 day and an RBI, while Feazle went 2-for-3.
 
GAME 3 | ECU 5, UAM 6
In Sunday's rubber match, the Tigers found themselves playing from behind once again. ECU opened the scoring with Carsryn Cox sprinting home on a wild pitch, but the offense went quiet for the next five innings. Meanwhile, UAM steadily built a 4-1 lead heading into the seventh.
 
Just like in game one, ECU refused to go quietly. The Tigers staged a late rally, scoring four runs on five hits in the top of the seventh. C. Cox delivered an RBI single, Muncy followed with a clutch two-RBI knock to tie it, and Galcatcher came through once more with a go-ahead RBI single to put ECU on top 5-4.
 
But the bottom of the seventh brought heartbreak. UAM opened the inning with back-to-back hits, and with the bases loaded, a single up the middle tied the game before the Cotton Blossoms capitalized on a defensive lapse to score the winning run and walk off the game, stealing the series.
 
Brooklyn Charnock got the start and was followed by Lindsey Mauppin and Taylor Spence, with Chloe Williams ultimately taking the loss in relief.
 
Feazle finished the day a perfect 3-for-3, while Abbey Strong went 2-for-3 in the finale.