WEATHERFORD, Okla. – The East Central University baseball team opened its three-game Great American Conference series against Southwestern Oklahoma State University with a hard-fought 9-8 victory on Friday at Ken Turner Field. Despite a late push from the Bulldogs, the Tigers held on to secure the win.
 
ECU will look to clinch the series in tomorrow's doubleheader, set to begin at noon.
 
SWOSU struck first in the opening inning with a two-run home run to take an early 2-0 lead. The Tigers responded in the second, capitalizing on an opportunity as Donovan Noble delivered a three-RBI double down the left field line to give ECU a 3-2 advantage.
 
The Bulldogs evened things up in the fourth, but ECU answered in the bottom half as Tyler Akers drove in a run to put the Tigers back in front, 4-3. SWOSU tied the game once again in the fifth before ECU put together its biggest inning of the day.
 
Pryce Jackson sparked the rally with an RBI double, and Logan Jeske followed with a two-RBI single to give the Tigers the lead. Akers added another RBI single in the frame as ECU extended its advantage to 8-4.
 
SWOSU continued to battle back, scoring a run in the sixth to cut the deficit to 8-5, but Jackson came through again for ECU with an RBI triple in the bottom half to push the lead to 9-5.
 
In the seventh, the Bulldogs mounted a late rally, plating three runs to make it a one-run game, but the Tigers were able to hold on down the stretch and secure the 9-8 victory.
 
ECU totaled nine hits in the contest, led by Donovan Noble, who drove in a game-high three RBIs on his second-inning double. Tyler Akers and Pryce Jackson each added two hits and two RBIs, while Logan Jeske contributed a two-RBI performance. Max Tremblay also recorded a pair of hits, and Ryan Strickland, Mason Shimkus, and Cooper McCage each added a hit as the Tigers pieced together a balanced offensive effort.
 
Ryan Dembroski earned the win on the mound, tossing 5.0 innings while allowing four runs on seven hits and striking out two. Cameron Ebert followed in relief, working an inning, before Blake Seefeldt closed the door to secure the save. Seefeldt was strong over the final 3.0 innings, allowing just one run on one hit while helping the Tigers hold off the late push.