RICHARDSON, Texas – The East Central University softball team delivered a strong statement on the road Tuesday, sweeping UT Dallas with a 4-2 win in the opener before completing the doubleheader sweep with a 6-4 victory in game two.
 
The Tigers will now shift their focus back to Great American Conference play as they continue on the road to face Southwestern Oklahoma State University March 27-28.
 
In the opener, the Tigers wasted no time getting on the board in the top of the first. Brooklyn Charnock delivered an RBI single to shallow left, scoring Kenni Tudor and giving ECU an early 1-0 lead.
 
UT Dallas answered in the bottom half of the inning to even things up, but ECU quickly regained control in the second. Elyse LeClair laced a double to left center, driving in Abbey Strong to make it 2-1.
 
The Comets tied the game again in the third, but the Tigers responded once more, this time for good. LeClair came through again in the fourth with an RBI single to score Strong and put ECU ahead 3-2.
 
ECU added an insurance run in the fifth when a wild pitch allowed Hannah Whitaker to score, extending the lead to 4-2. The Tigers' pitching staff held firm over the final innings to secure the game one victory.
 
Bradi Odom paced the Tigers in the circle, earning the win after allowing just two runs while striking out eight across five innings. Lindsey Mauppin closed it out in dominant fashion, retiring all six batters she faced over the final two innings to secure the save.
 
In game two, ECU came out swinging early. Whitaker launched a two-run home run to left center in the first inning, plating LeClair and giving the Tigers a quick 2-0 advantage. Later in the inning, Kennedy Lord added to the lead with an RBI single to score Rylynn Truett and make it 3-0.
 
UT Dallas responded in the third with a four-run inning, highlighted by a two-run single and a two-run home run, to take a 4-3 lead.
 
But the Tigers answered in the fifth as Kenni Tudor delivered an RBI double down the left field line to tie the game at 4-4.
 
ECU regained control in the sixth inning when Lylith Harris came through with a clutch two-RBI single, scoring Sara Camplain and LeClair to give the Tigers a 6-4 advantage.
 
From there, ECU held off the Comets down the stretch to complete the doubleheader sweep.
 
Hannah Whitaker led the way with a two-run home run, while Lylith Harris delivered the go-ahead blow with a two-RBI single in the sixth. Kenni Tudor added an RBI double, and Kennedy Lord chipped in with an RBI single in the opening inning. Lillian Bacon and Sara Camplain each recorded two hits, helping fuel the Tigers' offensive effort.
 
In the circle, the Tigers relied on a trio of arms to secure the win. Kennedy Schroeder got the start, working 2.1 innings with a strikeout. After UT Dallas plated four runs, Brooklyn Charnock provided a key spark in relief, tossing 1.2 scoreless innings while striking out two to slow the Comets' momentum. Lindsey Mauppin took over from there and was dominant, earning the win with three shutout innings, allowing just three hits while striking out three to keep UT Dallas off the board the rest of the way.