TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – East Central University softball competed at the Cherokee Nation Softball Festival in Tahlequah on Thursday and Friday, competing in four games against regional opponents. On Day One, the Tigers faced Northeastern Oklahoma State University and Rogers State University, then took on Fort Hays State University and Washburn University on Day Two to wrap up the weekend.
 
With tournament play complete, ECU now turns its attention to Great American Conference action, starting with their first GAC series and home opener against Ouachita Baptist University on February 20-21.
 
Game 1| ECU vs. NSU | 0-1 (8 inn.)
The Tigers began the weekend with a tight extra-inning battle against Northeastern Oklahoma State University, falling 1-0 in eight innings in a pitcher's duel.
 
Both teams were held scoreless through seven innings as the pitching staffs controlled the tempo. ECU scattered a few hits, including a double from Brooklyn Charnock and singles from Elyse LeClair and Hannah Whitaker, but couldn't capitalize. In the bottom of the eighth, Northeastern State used back-to-back bunt singles to bring home the placed runner and secure the walk-off win.
 
Brooklyn Charnock pitched a complete game in ECU's opening matchup, allowing seven hits but no earned runs over seven innings. She struck out five and walked two, keeping the Tigers in the game through a tight 1-0 extra-inning loss.
 
Game 2 | ECU vs. RSU | 0-8 (5 inn.)
In game two, ECU fell 8-0 in five innings to Rogers State University. The Hillcats scored two runs in the first inning, added two more in the second, pushed across another pair in the third and capped the scoring with two runs in the fourth to secure the run-rule victory.
 
ECU's lone hit of the game came from Kennedy Lord, while Kennedy Schroeder took the loss in the circle, tossing 3.1 innings and allowing eight runs on eight hits while striking out two. Addison Hughes worked the final 0.2 innings in relief, recording one strikeout.
 
Game 3 | ECU vs. FHSU | 7-8
In the first game of day two, ECU dropped a close 8-7 contest to Fort Hays State University.
 
Fort Hays State capitalized on an error to score two unearned runs in the first, but the Tigers answered with an RBI double from Hannah Whitaker in the bottom half. Kenni Tudor tied the game with an RBI single in the second before Fort Hays responded with a three-run homer in the third to take a 5-2 lead.
 
ECU battled back with two RBI from Tudor in the third and a two-run home run from Brooklyn Charnock in the fourth to move in front 6-5. However, Fort Hays regained the lead with three runs in the sixth inning. Charnock added an RBI double in the bottom of the frame to pull ECU within one, but the Tigers were unable to complete the comeback in the 8-7 loss.
 
Brooklyn Charnock led ECU at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a home run, a double and three RBIs while scoring twice. Kenni Tudor added two hits and drove in three runs, and Elyse LeClair finished with a pair of hits and a run scored. Hannah Whitaker contributed an RBI double, while Kennedy Lord and Katelin Keller each added a hit as the Tigers totaled 11 hits.
 
Despite the loss, Brooklyn Charnock delivered a complete-game effort in the circle, tossing 7.0 innings and allowing eight runs, six earned, on 11 hits while striking out two and walking one.
 
Game 4 | ECU vs. WU | 0-8
In the final game of the weekend, ECU fell 8-0 to Washburn University.
 
Washburn took an early 1-0 lead in the first inning before adding two runs in the fourth. The Ichabods extended their advantage with three runs in the fifth and capped the scoring with a two-RBI single in the sixth to secure the run-rule victory.
 
Elyse LeClair, Kennedy Lord, Katelin Keller, and Sara Camplain each recorded one hit, accounting for all of ECU's offense in the game.
 
Amera Garner took the loss, allowing five runs in four innings, while Addison Hughes allowed three more in relief. Kennedy Schroeder closed the game without allowing a run.