MONTICELLO, Ark. – The East Central University baseball team wrapped up its Great American Conference series on Friday at Arkansas-Monticello, battling in both contests but coming up just short in a pair of one-run losses. The Tigers fell 6-5 in game one before dropping a 3-2 decision in game two, moving to 15-15 in GAC play as the race for a conference tournament spot tightens.
 
In game one, ECU came out strong, striking early in the first inning as Max Tremblay brought home the opening run on a bunt single, with Tyler Akers later scoring on an error to make it 1-0. Tremblay added another RBI in the third, giving the Tigers a 2-0 advantage.
 
Arkansas-Monticello answered with a pair of runs in the third to even the score, but ECU responded in the fourth. Tyler Akers and Donovan Noble each drew RBI walks to push the Tigers back in front, 4-2.
 
ECU extended its lead in the sixth when Noble launched a solo home run to make it 5-2. However, the Boll Weevils capitalized on miscues in the bottom half of the inning, scoring three runs to tie the game before a solo home run in the eighth proved to be the difference in a 6-5 loss.
 
Donovan Noble led the Tigers at the plate with a 3-for-4 performance, driving in two RBIs and drawing a walk. Max Tremblay added two RBIs, while Pryce Jackson and Logan Jeske each recorded multi-hit games with two hits apiece.
 
Ryan Dembroski got the start, tossing 4.0 innings with three strikeouts while allowing two runs. Blake Seefeldt worked an inning in relief, while Easton Riddle took the loss after going 2.2 innings. Andrew Black closed out the game with a scoreless inning, recording a strikeout.
 
In game two, the Tigers once again jumped out in front early. Max Tremblay delivered an RBI single in the first to give ECU a 1-0 lead, and the Tigers added another run in the fourth on a groundout to extend the advantage to 2-0.
 
Arkansas-Monticello responded in the fifth, taking advantage of opportunities to score three runs and flip the game in its favor. Despite continued pressure, ECU was unable to push across the tying run down the stretch, falling 3-2 in the finale.
 
Pryce Jackson led the Tigers with a perfect 3-for-3 performance at the plate. Max Tremblay drove in a run, while Joey Allen and Cooper McCage each added a hit in the contest.
 
Caleb Peek took the loss after tossing 4.0 innings, allowing three runs (two earned) while striking out two. Andrew Black and Evan Groh were strong in relief, each delivering a scoreless inning with a strikeout.