BENTONVILLE, Ark. – The East Central University softball team competed at the Alvy Memorial Classic in Bentonville, Arkansas, on Friday and Saturday for its second tournament of the season. The Tigers opened the weekend with a pair of tightly contested games, dropping close decisions to Southwest Baptist University (4–3) and Truman State University (5–3). ECU responded on day two with a hard-fought 6–5 victory over Maryville University before falling to Missouri S&T, 9–1, in the tournament finale.
 
Following the weekend, ECU sits at 2–6 on the season and now turns its attention to its third and final tournament next week at the Tahlequah Softball Festival.
 
GAME 1 | ECU vs. SBU | 3-4
ECU began the tournament with a back-and-forth battle against Southwest Baptist University, falling 4–3 after the Bearcats rallied in the seventh inning.
 
The Tigers struck first in the opening frame when Hannah Whitaker singled to second base to drive in Elyse LeClair for an early 1–0 lead. After SBU evened the score in the third, ECU quickly responded as Kennedy Lord singled up the middle to bring home Sarah Camplain, reclaiming the lead at 2–1.
 
ECU carried that advantage into the final inning before SBU used a late rally to score three runs in the seventh to take a 4–2 lead. The Tigers answered in the bottom half as LeClair delivered an RBI single to score Lindsey Mauppin, cutting the deficit to one, but ECU was unable to complete the comeback.
 
ECU's offense was paced by Hannah Whitaker, who went a perfect 3-for-3 with an RBI. Sara Camplain added a 2-for-4 performance with a run scored, while Elyse LeClair and Kennedy Lord each contributed a hit and an RBI.
 
In the circle, Bradi Odom gave ECU a strong start, working five innings while allowing just one run on two hits and striking out five. Chloe Williams was tagged with the loss after pitching 1.1 innings, and Bailey Melton closed out the game with two-thirds of a scoreless inning, recording one strikeout.
 
GAME 2 | ECVU vs. TSU | 3-5
In the nightcap, the Tigers faced Truman State University and once again found themselves in a close contest, falling 5–3.
 
Truman State jumped out to an early lead with two runs in the first inning and added two more in the third to take a 4–0 advantage. ECU responded in the fourth inning when Kennedy Lord launched a two-run home run to left field, scoring Camplain and pulling the Tigers within two.
 
The Bulldogs added a run in the bottom of the fourth to extend their lead to 5–2. ECU continued to battle, scoring again in the sixth inning as Hannah Whitaker crossed the plate on a passed ball to make it a 5–3 game, but the Tigers were unable to generate the tying runs.
 
The Tigers were led at the plate by Kennedy Lord, who drove in two runs on her second home run of the season to account for the Tigers' scoring. Sara Camplain continued her strong day by going 2-for-4 with a run scored, while Elyse LeClair added a 2-for-4 performance. Hannah Whitaker also crossed the plate and drew a walk, and Kenni Tudor and Nevaeh Richmond-Huzarevich each added a hit.
 
In the circle, Amera Garner got the start and was tagged with the loss after allowing two runs in one inning of work. Brooklyn Charnock provided solid relief, tossing five innings but surrendering three runs (one earned) on five hits.
 
GAME 3 | ECU vs. MU | 6-5
In their first game of day two, ECU picked up a gritty 6–5 victory over Maryville University, using late power and timely execution to pull out the win.
 
ECU struck first in the opening inning when Hannah Whitaker singled to shortstop to drive in Elyse LeClair, but Maryville answered later in the frame with a three-run home run to grab an early advantage.
 
After three scoreless innings, the Tigers broke through in the fifth with an offensive surge. Brooklyn Charnock launched a two-run home run to right field to even the score, and moments later Kennedy Lord followed with a two-run blast to left, giving ECU a 5–3 lead.
 
Maryville responded with a two-run home run in the bottom of the fifth to tie the game once again, but ECU had the final say. In the sixth inning, Lindsey Mauppin scored on a passed ball to put the Tigers back in front for good.
 
ECU closed out the final inning to secure the one-run win and complete the comeback.
 
In the circle, Charnock earned the win with a strong relief outing, tossing six innings while allowing just two runs on four hits and striking out five after entering in the second inning.
 
At the plate, Lord and Charnock each drove in two runs, with Lord hitting her third home run of the season and Charnock notching her first. LeClair finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored, while Whitaker added an RBI. Nevaeh Richmond-Huzarevich and Lylith Harris each recorded a hit.
 
GAME 4 | ECU vs. Missouri S&T | 1-9
The Tigers closed the Alvy Memorial Classic with a loss to Missouri S&T, falling 9–1 in the tournament finale.
 
After two scoreless innings, the Miners struck the scoreboard first with a three-run third inning. ECU's lone run came in the bottom of the third when Kennedy Lord's hit plated Elyse LeClair, but the Tigers were unable to generate sustained offense the rest of the way while Missouri S&T added two more runs in the fourth to build an early 5-1 cushion.
 
Missouri S&T tacked on runs in the sixth and seventh innings to pull away and seal the win, while ECU finished with six hits but was limited to just one run.
 
At the plate, Elyse LeClair led ECU, going 2-for-3 and scoring the Tigers' lone run. Kennedy Lord finished 2-for-3 with an RBI, while Sara Camplain and Lylith Harris each added a hit.
 
In the circle, Bradi Odom took the loss after pitching three innings, allowing three runs (one earned) on four hits while striking out two. Amera Garner worked the final four innings in relief, surrendering six runs on nine hits with two strikeouts.