EDMOND, Okla. – After an explosive opening day at the UCO First Pitch Classic in which the Tigers scored 19 runs on 23 hits, the East Central University baseball team was unable to maintain that offensive momentum on Saturday, falling to Pittsburg State University, 19-0.
 
ECU's bats were held in check as Pittsburg State jumped out to an early lead and never relinquished control. The Tigers will look to bounce back in their final game of the UCO First Pitch Classic when they face host University of Central Oklahoma on Sunday, Feb. 8, at 1 p.m.
 
The Tigers appeared to get off to a strong start defensively with two quick outs in the opening inning, but a two-out single by the Gorillas led to a pair of runs and sparked Pittsburg State's offensive momentum.
 
Pittsburg State added six more runs in the second inning to extend its lead to 8-0, putting continued pressure on the Tiger pitching staff.
 
The Gorillas tacked on one run in the fourth and two more in the fifth to push the advantage to 11-0, while ECU struggled to answer offensively. The Tigers collected two hits in the first inning, one in the fourth, and another in the fifth, but were unable to capitalize.
 
Pitt State added four runs in both the sixth and seventh innings to bring the contest to a close after seven innings.
 
Max Tremblay recorded the only multi-hit performance for ECU, going 2-for-3 at the plate. Bill McCarter, Ryan Strickland, and Joey Allen accounted for the Tigers' remaining hits.
 
ECU used multiple pitchers throughout the game. Greyson Christian opened on the mound, followed by Caleb Ebert, who worked two innings of relief and struck out two. Andrew Black added 1.2 innings out of the bullpen, allowing two unearned runs while recording two strikeouts. Cameron Ebert, Ethan Nowell, Trace McDaniels, and Cooper Ewing also saw action, with McDaniels and Ewing combining for 1.2 scoreless innings.