ADA, Okla. – The East Central University softball team opened its Great American Conference home series in strong fashion Thursday, sweeping a doubleheader against the University of Arkansas-Monticello at Tiger Softball Field. The Tigers earned a 2-0 shutout victory in game one before securing the series win with a 6-2 victory in game two.
 
The Tigers will look to complete the series sweep over the Cotton Blossoms in the finale on Friday at noon.
 
In the opener, ECU relied on timely hitting and a dominant performance in the circle to earn the shutout.
 
The Tigers broke through in the second inning, as Hannah Whitaker delivered the key swing of the game with a two-RBI single up the middle, bringing home Haley Kruger and Kenni Tudor to give ECU a 2-0 lead.
 
That would be all the offense the Tigers needed, as ECU held Arkansas-Monticello scoreless the rest of the way to secure the win.
 
ECU was led offensively by Hannah Whitaker, who went 2-for-3 with 2 RBIs, accounting for both of the Tigers' runs. Abbey Strong, Kenni Tudor, Haley Kruger, and Sara Camplain each added a hit as ECU produced timely offense in the shutout win.
 
In the circle, Bradi Odom was dominant, tossing a complete-game shutout while allowing just two hits and striking out five to earn the win.
 
In game two, Arkansas-Monticello struck first with a run in the opening inning, but the Tigers responded in a big way in the third.
 
Whitaker sparked the rally with an RBI double before Elyse LeClair followed with an RBI single to give ECU its first lead of the game. The Tigers continued to capitalize, scoring two more runs on an error to take a 4-1 advantage.
 
ECU added insurance in the fourth inning, as Whitaker delivered again with a two-RBI single to extend the lead to 6-1.
 
Arkansas-Monticello plated a run in the fifth, but the Tigers held firm the rest of the way to secure the 6-2 win and clinch the series.
 
Hannah Whitaker continued to lead the Tigers at the plate, going 2-for-4 with 3 RBIs, accounting for all but one of ECU's runs in the game. Elyse LeClair added a strong performance, finishing 2-for-3 with an RBI, while Haley Kruger also contributed a hit in the win.
 
In the circle, Kennedy Schroeder earned the win, tossing 4.2 innings and allowing two runs while keeping the Tigers in control. Lindsey Mauppin closed out the game with 2.1 scoreless innings, not allowing a hit to secure the victory.