ADA, Okla. – The East Central University softball team hosted Northwestern Oklahoma State University for its second Great American Conference series of the season, dropping a narrow 2-0 decision in game one before responding with a gritty 2-1 victory in game two to split Friday's doubleheader.
 
ECU will look to secure the series win in Saturday's finale, scheduled for 1 p.m.
 
Game One | NWOSU 2, ECU 0
The opener proved to be a pitcher's duel, with both teams limited offensively throughout the contest.
 
Northwestern Oklahoma State struck first in the top of the first inning with a solo home run to left center, taking an early 1-0 advantage. The Rangers added an insurance run in the seventh on another solo shot to center field, extending the lead to 2-0.
 
Brooklyn Charnock worked the complete game for ECU, tossing all 7.0 innings. She allowed two runs on eight hits while striking out four and issuing no walks. Charnock kept the Tigers in the contest throughout, but Northwestern Oklahoma State's timely hitting produced the two runs that proved decisive in the 2-0 game one loss.
 
Jaicee Stott led the Tigers at the plate, going 2-for-3 to account for two of ECU's five hits. Kenni Tudor added a 1-for-2 performance, while Katelin Keller and Sara Camplain each recorded one hit.
 
Game Two | ECU 2, NWOSU 1
The Tigers struck first in the third inning when Hannah Whitaker delivered an RBI single to center, scoring Brooklyn Charnock for the early 1-0 advantage. ECU added an important insurance run in the fourth as Elyse LeClair launched a solo home run to left field, the third of her career, extending the lead to 2-0.
 
Northwestern Oklahoma State plated a run in the fifth capitalizing on a Tiger error, but ECU's defense and pitching shut the door the rest of the way to secure the win.
 
Bradi Odom tossed the complete-game victory to earn her first win of the season. The right-hander went all 7.0 innings, allowing just one unearned run on seven hits while striking out two.
 
Elyse LeClair led the Tigers at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a solo home run and scoring once to account for one of ECU's two runs. Hannah Whitaker delivered the go-ahead RBI with a single up the middle, finishing 1-for-2 with an RBI.

Kenni Tudor and Jaicee Stott each added a hit at the top of the lineup, while Sara Camplain and Katelin Keller also recorded base knocks to help ECU total seven hits in the 2-1 victory.