ADA, Okla. – The East Central University softball team returned to Ada on Friday to open a Great American Conference series against Arkansas Tech University, falling 10-1 in the series opener.
 
The Tigers will look to bounce back in Saturday's doubleheader finale, with first pitch set for noon at Tiger Softball Field.
 
Arkansas Tech struck early in the second inning, using a series of hits to plate four runs and take a 4-0 lead.
 
The Tigers responded in the bottom of the third, getting on the board as Jaicee Stott drove in Lindsey Mauppin on a groundout to cut the deficit to 4-1.
 
The Golden Suns continued to apply pressure in the middle innings, adding two more runs in the fifth to extend their lead to 6-1. Arkansas Tech then broke the game open in the sixth inning, scoring four runs, highlighted by a two-run home run, to push the lead to 10-1.
 
ECU was unable to find additional offense down the stretch as Arkansas Tech held on for the win.
 
Brooklyn Charnock took the circle to start for ECU, working 5.1 innings. Lindsey Mauppin came in to close out the game, pitching two-thirds of an inning, giving up two runs on two hits, and recording one strikeout.