ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – The East Central University baseball team opened Great American Conference road play Friday evening, falling 6-2 to Ouachita Baptist University in the first game of the three-game series.
 
The Tigers will look to bounce back as the GAC series continues Saturday with a doubleheader starting at noon.
 
Ouachita struck first in the opening inning with an RBI single to take a 1-0 lead.
 
After three scoreless frames, the Tigers trailed by just one before the Tigers of OBU used a four-run fourth inning to create separation. A run-scoring double ignited the rally, followed by a bunt single and a two-RBI single through the right side to extend the advantage to 5-0.
 
ECU answered in the sixth inning when Diego Sotelo delivered an RBI single to shallow center, scoring Tyler Akers to get the Tigers on the board. The momentum continued into the eighth as Ryan Strickland lifted a sacrifice fly to left field, bringing home Donovan Noble and trimming the deficit to 5-2.
 
However, Ouachita responded with an insurance run in the bottom half of the eighth to push the lead back to four. ECU was unable to generate a late rally, dropping the series opener by a final score of 6-2.
 
The Tigers were limited to two runs but collected eight hits in the series opener. Pryce Jackson led the way with a 2-for-3 performance, while Tyler Akers Diego Sotelo, Max Tremblay, Logan Jeske, Mason Shimkus, and Donovan Noble added one hit apiece. Sotelo and Strickland also added RBIs.
 
Joel Hogan made the start for the Tigers, tossing 6.0 innings while allowing five runs on eight hits and striking out three. Zane Wilson worked the final two innings in relief, giving up one run on two hits with one strikeout to close out the game.