PIEDMONT, Okla. – The East Central University softball team took a detour to Piedmont High School for the opening game of their Great American Conference series against Southern Nazarene University. It was a tightly contested affair, but the Tigers held on to a 2-1 lead to secure Sunday's game one victory.
 
With the win, ECU improves to 14-18 overall and 7-14 in GAC play, while SNU falls to 13-8 in conference action, snapping an impressive eight-game win streak. The Tigers will look to clinch the series victory in tomorrow's doubleheader.
 
The Crimson Storm struck first in the opening frame with a sacrifice flyout, taking a 1-0 lead. However, the Tigers quickly responded in the third inning. Addisyn Cox led off with a double down the left-field line, advanced to third on Carsyn Cox's groundout, and then scored on a sacrifice flyout from Elyse LeClair, tying the game at 1-1.
 
In the following inning, ECU took their first and final lead of the game when Jami Watson launched a solo homer to left field, giving the Tigers a 2-1 advantage that would ultimately stand as the game-winning run.
 
ECU's defense, led by starting pitcher Brooklyn Charnock, kept the Crimson Storm at bay, retiring the side in order in the fourth and fifth innings. Despite SNU having runners in scoring position in both the sixth and seventh innings, the Tigers executed a pivotal double play on aggressive base running, and a final out sealed the hard-fought victory.
 
Charnock earned her third win of the season, pitching a complete stellar 7.0 innings. She allowed just one run on five hits, striking out three batters.
 
At the plate, Carsyn Cox, Jami Watson, McKinley Feazle, and Addisyn Cox each recorded a hit, with Watson adding her third home run of the season to cap off the Tigers' offensive efforts.