DURANT, Okla. – The East Central University baseball team dropped a tightly contested midweek matchup Tuesday afternoon, falling 5-4 to Southeastern Oklahoma State University on the road.
 
With the midweek contest complete, ECU will now turn its attention back to Great American Conference play as it prepares to host Oklahoma Baptist University this weekend in Ada.
 
The Tigers struck first in the second inning when Bill McCarter launched a solo home run to right center, giving ECU an early 1-0 lead. East Central extended its advantage in the fifth as DeAngelo Morales connected on a two-run homer to left field, scoring Lucas Barnes and putting the Tigers in front 3-0.
 
Southeastern answered in the bottom half of the fifth, scoring once on a wild pitch before adding three more runs on a single and a two-RBI double to take a 4-3 lead.

ECU responded in the sixth when McCarter delivered again, singling to left center to bring home Ryan Strickland and tie the game at 4-4. However, Southeastern regained the lead in the seventh with a solo home run that proved to be the difference.
 
The Tigers totaled eight hits in the contest, led by Bill McCarter's two-hit performance, which included a solo home run and an RBI single to account for two runs driven in. DeAngelo Morales added a two-run home run in the fifth, finishing with two RBIs on the day.
 
Tyler Akers, Max Tremblay, Ryan Strickland, Joey Allen, and Lucas Barnes each recorded a hit, with Strickland and Barnes both scoring runs as ECU built its early lead.
 
On the mound, Tagen Conary gave the Tigers a strong start, tossing 3.0 scoreless innings while allowing six hits and striking out three. Easton Riddle followed and was charged with four runs over 1.1 innings as Southeastern took the lead in the fifth.
 
Caleb Ebert and Cameron Ebert combined for 1.2 scoreless innings out of the bullpen to keep ECU within striking distance. Andrew Black (0-1) was tagged with the loss after allowing the go-ahead run in the seventh. Holden Conner closed out the final frame, striking out two in a scoreless inning of relief.