ADA, Okla. – The East Central University softball team opened their final Great American Conference series of the 2025 season with a doubleheader against Henderson State on Friday afternoon at Tiger Softball Field. With postseason implications on the line, both teams came out with intensity, battling for a spot in the GAC Tournament. Despite strong moments from the Tigers, ECU ultimately fell short in both games, dropping game one 6-3 and game two 6-2.
 
The Tigers will wrap up the series against the Reddies tomorrow at 9:30 a.m., with Senior Day festivities to follow.
 
GAME 1 | ECU 3, HSU 6
The Reddies wasted no time setting the tone, plating three runs on three hits in the opening inning to take an early 3-0 lead. After two quiet frames, ECU roared back in the fourth. Jami Watson ignited the offense with a solo blast to center, her fourth home run of the season. Moments later, Elyse LeClair delivered a clutch two-RBI double down the left field line, scoring Brooklyn Fleming and Addisyn Cox to tie the game at 3-3.
 
However, HSU regained control in the sixth inning, capitalizing on two ECU errors and tacking on three more runs on two hits to pull ahead 6-3—a lead the Tigers couldn't overcome.
 
Chloe Williams took the start and was tagged with the loss after giving up three runs on three hits. Lindsey Mauppin was strong in relief, throwing 6.1 innings and allowing three unearned runs on six hits.
 
LeClair and Watson each went 2-for-4 at the plate, with LeClair driving in two runs and Watson powering her fourth homer.
 
GAME 2 | ECU 2, HSU 6
The second game followed a similar script, with ECU battling back but unable to hold off HSU's late-game surge.
 
The Reddies struck first again, putting up two runs on three hits in the opening frame. ECU responded in the third when Carsyn Cox's RBI single drove in McKinley Feazle to cut the lead in half. And an inning later, Watson continued her big day at the plate with her second home run of the afternoon, tying the game 2-2.
 
Henderson State answered in the fifth, reclaiming a 3-2 lead. ECU had a golden opportunity in the bottom half with three straight singles to load the bases, but back-to-back strikeouts ended the threat and left the Tigers empty-handed.
 
HSU would go on to add three insurance runs in the seventh to secure the game two victory and clinch the series.
 
Taylor Spence pitched 6.1 innings in the start, allowing six runs on 10 hits while striking out four in a hard-fought effort.
 
At the plate, Cox went 2-for-4, while Watson capped her day with her fifth homer of the season.