EDMOND, Okla. – The East Central University baseball team wrapped up play at the UCO First Pitch Classic on Sunday, falling 11–3 to host Central Oklahoma at Wendell Simmons Field.
 
ECU now turns its attention to its home opener, a midweek matchup on Tuesday, Feb. 10, against Rogers State University at 2 p.m. at Ken Turner Field.
 
After defeating the Bronchos in the tournament opener on Friday, ECU found itself locked in a scoreless battle through four innings. UCO broke through in the fifth with a two-run double and added two more runs in the sixth to take a 4–0 lead.
 
The Tigers answered in the seventh inning with a three-run rally to pull within one. ECU plated its first run when Logan Jeske was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, followed by an RBI walk from Christian Fernandez and an RBI single by Tyler Akers to make it a 4–3 game.
 
But Central Oklahoma responded immediately with a solo home run in the bottom of the seventh before breaking the game open in the eighth inning. The Bronchos scored six runs in the frame, highlighted by RBI doubles and a two-run home run, to extend the lead and seal the win.
 
At the plate, Ryan Strickland led ECU, going 3-for-4 with a run scored. Tyler Akers finished 2-for-5 with an RBI, while Max Tremblay, Trace Necessary, Bill McCarter, Joey Allen, and Donovan Noble each added a hit.
 
On the mound, Presley Tully had a solid outing despite taking the loss, pitching five innings and allowing just two earned runs on four hits while striking out seven. Caleb Peek added two innings, giving up three runs on four hits with three strikeouts. Relievers Kason Pruitt and Blake Seefeldt each had appearances, and Easton Riddle closed the game with two scoreless-thirds of an inning.