WEATHERFORD, Okla. – The East Central University softball team dropped the opening game of a three-game Great American Conference series against Southwestern Oklahoma State University, falling 6-1 to the Bulldogs on Friday.
 
The Tigers will look to bounce back in tomorrow's doubleheader, set to begin at noon.
 
ECU entered the matchup looking to build off an exciting midweek doubleheader sweep against UT Dallas.
 
In the top of the first, Elyse LeClair was hit by a pitch to put a runner on, and a single from Abbey Strong gave the Tigers an early scoring opportunity. However, a strikeout and a double play ended the inning with two runners left on base.
 
Brooklyn Charnock took the circle for the Tigers and worked around a double in the bottom of the first to keep SWOSU off the board, sending the game into the second inning scoreless.
 
ECU was unable to break through in the second, recording a groundout and two strikeouts. The Bulldogs found their rhythm in the bottom half, scoring two runs on two hits and an error to take the early lead.
 
SWOSU added another run in the fifth to extend its advantage, but ECU showed life in the sixth. Hannah Whitaker doubled to spark the offense, and with two outs, Kenni Tudor delivered an RBI single to right field to cut the deficit to 3-1.
 
The Bulldogs quickly responded in the bottom of the inning, plating three runs to extend their lead and secure the 6-1 victory.
 
In the seventh, ECU put together back-to-back singles but was unable to capitalize.
 
The Tigers finished with six hits, led by Sara Camplain's 2-for-2 performance at the plate. Abbey Strong, Hannah Whitaker, Kenni Tudor, Brooklyn Charnock, and Katelin Keller each added a hit, with Tudor driving in ECU's lone run and Whitaker scoring it.
 
Charnock got the start in the circle, pitching 5.1 innings and allowing six runs, four earned, on 10 hits while recording a strikeout. Lindsey Mauppin came on in relief and closed out the game with 0.2 scoreless innings, allowing just one hit.