EDMOND, Okla. – The East Central University baseball team officially opened the 2026 season Thursday at the UCO First Pitch Classic in Edmond, Oklahoma. The Tigers opened the tournament with a pair of games, falling in a high-scoring battle with Emporia State University, 18-12, before bouncing back with a huge 7-4 victory over host University of Central Oklahoma to snap the Bronchos' 17-game winning streak and earn their first win of the season.
 
The Tigers will have one day off before returning to action on Saturday, Feb. 7 when they take on Pittsburg State University at 4 pm.
 
GAME 1 | ECU vs ESU | 12-18
ECU wasted no time offensively, jumping out to an early lead in the first inning. After Emporia State scored first, the Tigers answered with three runs behind RBI singles from Ryan Strickland and Joey Allen, along with aggressive baserunning that allowed ECU to take a 3-1 advantage after one inning.
 
The Tigers extended the lead in the second when Donovan Noble blasted a two-run home run down the left-field line, pushing ECU in front 5-2.
 
Emporia State responded with power of its own, evening the score with a three-run homer in the third before taking the lead in the fourth. ECU answered again in the fifth inning with its biggest offensive surge of the day, plating five runs to reclaim momentum.
 
Strickland drove in a run with a single before Allen delivered the big blow, ripping a three-RBI double down the left-field line. Logan Jeske followed with an RBI single to cap the inning and give the Tigers a 10-8 lead.
 
The Hornets capitalized in the middle innings, scoring three runs in the sixth to pull even before using a seven-run seventh inning to take control of the contest.
 
ECU continued to battle late, adding runs in the seventh and eighth innings. Jameson Ross singled to left field in the seventh inning to drive in Jeske, while Mason Shimkus recorded an RBI groundout in the eighth to bring ECU within six.
 
The Tigers outhit Emporia State 16-12 in the season opener, led by Joey Allen, who recorded three hits and four RBIs in his first game in an ECU uniform. Ryan Strickland and Jameson Ross each added three hits, with Strickland driving in two runs and Ross contributing one. Trace Necessary and Logan Jeske each collected two hits, while Donovan Noble chipped in two RBIs.
 
ECU used seven pitchers in the season opener, with Blake Seefeldt getting the start, followed by Caleb Peek, Kason Pruitt, Easton Riddle, Evan Groh, and Jackson Davis. Zane Wilson closed the game with 2.1 scoreless innings and four strikeouts.
 
GAME 2 | ECU vs UCO | 7-4
Central Oklahoma jumped out to an early lead with two runs in the first inning, but ECU responded in the second. Diego Sotelo and Tyler Akers each drew RBI walks to pull the Tigers even at 2-2, taking advantage of UCO miscues.
 
The Tigers grabbed the lead in the fourth inning when Joey Allen blasted a solo home run to right field, making it 3-2.
 
UCO answered in the fifth with two unearned runs to regain the advantage, but ECU stayed composed and continued to apply pressure.
 
ECU regained control in the seventh inning as Max Tremblay singled through the left side to drive in the tying run before Allen drew a bases-loaded walk to put the Tigers back in front, 5-4.
 
The Tigers added insurance in the eighth, scoring on a wild pitch that brought Tyler Akers home before Ryan Strickland delivered an RBI single down the right-field line to extend the lead to 7-4.
 
ECU shut the door late on the mound to secure the statement win. Joel Hogan got the start, tossing 4 innings and allowing just two earned runs while striking out two. He was followed by Ryan Dembroski, who earned the victory with five shutout innings, scattering two hits and striking out eight to close out the game and preserve the Tigers' 7-4 win.
 
Joey Allen paced the ECU offense with two hits and two RBIs, while Ryan Strickland added two hits and an RBI. Additional RBIs came from Tyler Akers, Max Tremblay, and Diego Sotelo.