ADA, Okla. – The East Central University baseball team opened Great American Conference play in dominant fashion on Friday at Ken Turner Field, defeating Henderson State University 10-6 in game one of the doubleheader before edging the Reddies 5-4 in game two to secure a thrilling sweep.
 
The victory marks the first Great American Conference series-opening sweep for the Tigers since the 2015 season, when ECU took down Southwestern Oklahoma State University. As of Friday night, the Tigers are the only team in the GAC with a 3-0 start to conference play.
 
Game 1 | ECU vs. HSU | 10-6
Game one set the tone for the day, as ECU erupted for six runs in the opening inning and never trailed on the way to a 10-6 victory that clinched the series before the nightcap even began.
 
The Tigers wasted no time applying pressure in the first. Diego Sotelo delivered an RBI single to open the scoring, followed by a run-scoring knock from Ryan Strickland. Logan Jeske then delivered the big blow of the inning with a two-RBI single down the left-field line, and Jameson Ross added another RBI single later in the frame. ECU capped the six-run outburst with aggressive baserunning that brought home the final run of the inning to seize a commanding early lead.
 
Henderson State answered with a run in the second, but ECU continued to build its cushion in the third. Sotelo lifted a sacrifice fly to plate another run before Max Tremblay drove in a run with a single up the middle, stretching the lead to 8-1.
 
The Reddies chipped away with two runs in the fifth and another in the sixth to trim the deficit to 8-4, but the Tigers responded once again. Joey Allen ripped an RBI double in the seventh, and Sotelo collected another RBI single in the eighth to extend the advantage to 10-4.
 
Henderson State plated two runs in the ninth, including one unearned, but ECU closed the door to secure the 10-6 win and guarantee the series victory.
 
Diego Sotelo paced the Tigers at the plate, going 2-for-2 with three RBIs and drawing three walks while scoring twice. Logan Jeske turned in a big performance as well, finishing 2-for-3 with two RBIs and three runs scored. Max Tremblay added two hits and an RBI, while Joey Allen went 2-for-4 with a run driven in. Jameson Ross also recorded a multi-hit outing, going 2-for-4 with an RBI. Ryan Strickland chipped in a hit, an RBI and two walks as ECU racked up 13 hits and nine free passes.
 
On the mound, Greyson Christian got the start and worked 4.0 innings, allowing three runs on three hits while striking out two. Blake Seefeldt earned the win in relief, tossing 2.0 innings and giving up just one run while striking out two. Ryan Dembroski closed the door to secure his first save of the season, throwing the final 3.0 innings and allowing just one earned run while striking out four to seal the win.
 
Game 2 | ECU vs. HSU | 5-4
The Reddies grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the first of game two, but the Tigers answered immediately with a four-run bottom half.
 
Joey Allen tied the game with an RBI single to center before Trace Necessary was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to force in another run. Logan Jeske followed with an RBI single through the right side, and DeAngelo Morales capped the inning with a run-scoring single to give ECU a 4-1 advantage.
 
Henderson State trimmed the lead to 4-2 in the third, but the Tigers added what proved to be the decisive run in the fifth. Jameson Ross reached on an error, and a throwing miscue allowed Pryce Jackson to score an unearned run to stretch the lead to 5-2.
 
The Reddies continued to battle, plating an unearned run in the sixth and adding a sacrifice fly in the seventh to cut the deficit to one. However, ECU's pitching staff locked in over the final two innings to preserve the 5-4 win and complete the sweep.
 
Jeske finished 2-for-2 with an RBI and a walk to lead ECU at the plate in game two. Allen added an RBI single, while Morales also drove in a run. Necessary picked up an RBI, and Sotelo, Jackson and Akers each recorded a hit and scored a run as the Tigers totaled seven hits in the win.
 
Presley Tully earned the win in game two, tossing 4.0 innings and allowing two runs on seven hits while striking out six. Caleb Peek secured his first save of the season, working the final 3.0 innings and giving up just one earned run while striking out four to preserve the sweep.