ADA, Okla. – The East Central University baseball team battled back from an early deficit in a wild Great American Conference series opener against Harding University on Friday at Ken Turner Field, but the Bisons held off the Tigers down the stretch to secure a 13-10 victory.
 
The Tigers will look to carry the momentum from their comeback effort into Saturday's doubleheader starting at noon.
 
Harding struck early in the contest, scoring three runs in the opening inning before adding five more in the second to quickly build momentum. The Bisons continued to extend their lead in the third inning, pushing across five additional runs to take a 13-0 advantage.
 
ECU responded in a big way in the bottom of the fifth inning, erupting for 10 runs to quickly climb back into the game. Cooper McCage started the rally with an RBI single to right field before Max Tremblay followed with a run-scoring single. Joey Allen added a sacrifice fly to bring home another run as the Tigers began chipping away at the deficit.
 
Later in the inning, Logan Jeske reached on a fielder's choice that allowed two runs to score, cutting the Harding lead to 13-5. Tyler Akers continued the surge with a two-RBI single to center field, and McCage delivered again with an RBI double to left center. Tremblay capped off the massive inning with a two-run double that brought ECU within three runs at 13-10.
 
Despite the explosive inning and late momentum, the Tigers were unable to push across any additional runs the rest of the way as Harding held on for the series-opening victory.
 
The Tigers totaled 15 hits in the contest, led by Max Tremblay, who went 3-for-5 with a team-high three RBIs and a run scored. Cooper McCage also had a strong day at the plate, finishing 3-for-6 with two runs scored and two RBIs.
 
Joey Allen added three hits, going 3-for-5 with an RBI, while Tyler Akers contributed two hits, two RBIs and two runs scored at the top of the lineup. Logan Jeske chipped in two hits and a run scored, while Ryan Strickland and Mason Shimkus each added a hit for the Tigers.
 
Joel Hogan made the start for the Tigers, working 1.2 innings, before Greyson Christian followed with 0.2 innings of relief. Cameron Ebert then provided a steady outing out of the bullpen, tossing 2.2 scoreless innings with one strikeout to help settle the game for ECU.
 
Easton Riddle continued the strong relief effort with one scoreless inning and a strikeout, while Blake Seefeldt closed out the afternoon on the mound. Seefeldt delivered three shutout innings with three strikeouts, helping keep Harding off the board late and giving the Tigers an opportunity to mount their comeback bid.