ADA, Okla. – The East Central University softball team opened Great American Conference play Friday afternoon, falling 9-5 to Ouachita Baptist University in the home opener.
The contest marked game one of the three-game series, which will conclude Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at noon.
Ouachita Baptist jumped out to an early lead, plating five runs in the top of the first inning behind a series of RBI hits, including a two-run home run.
But the Tigers responded in the bottom of the second, beginning their comeback effort.
Sara Camplain lifted a sacrifice fly to bring home the first run, and
Kenni Tudor reached on an error that allowed two more runs to score, cutting the deficit to 5-3.
Ouachita added a solo home run in the third inning to make it 6-3, but ECU continued to battle.
After the visitors extended the lead to 8-3 in the fifth, Tudor delivered a solo home run to left field to spark the offense once again. Later in the inning,
Brooklyn Charnock added an RBI sacrifice fly to trim the margin to 8-5.
Despite multiple comeback attempts and pulling within three runs on two occasions, the Tigers were unable to close the gap as Ouachita plated one final run in the sixth inning to secure the 9-5 decision.
Hannah Whitaker led the offense going 3-for-4 at the plate as the only multi-hit performance.
Kenni Tudor finished 1-for-4 with her first solo home run and an additional RBI, while
Brooklyn Charnock added a hit and drove in a run.
Sara Camplain also recorded an RBI on a sacrifice fly.
Elyse LeClair,
Kennedy Lord,
Lindsey Mauppin, and
Jaicee Stott each contributed a hit, with LeClair, Mauppin, Stott, Charnock, and Tudor all scoring runs in the contest.
Brooklyn Charnock got the start in the circle but took the loss after allowing five runs in two-thirds of an inning.
Bailey Melton provided steady relief, tossing 6.1 innings while giving up four runs on seven hits. Melton struck out a season-high eight and walked one in the extended outing, keeping the Tigers within reach after the early deficit.
