DURANT, Okla. – The East Central University baseball team closed out its Great American Conference regular season Saturday with a doubleheader at Southeastern Oklahoma State University, battling through another extra-inning thriller in game one before falling in the nightcap. The Tigers dropped 11-9 in 11 innings in the opener and 8-1 in five innings in game two, which was shortened due to inclement weather.
 
Despite the losses, ECU finished the regular season with a 16-17 mark in GAC play, the program's best conference finish in the GAC era since 2012. The Tigers earned the No. 8 seed in the upcoming GAC Tournament and will face No. 1 Arkansas-Monticello at Majestic Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas, with first pitch set for Thursday, April 30 at 1 p.m.
 
In game one, ECU jumped out to a fast start, scoring three runs in the first inning behind an RBI single from Donovan Noble, a run-scoring play from Max Tremblay, and an RBI knock by Pryce Jackson. The Tigers continued to apply pressure, adding two more runs in the third, including a solo home run from Jackson, and extending their lead to 8-4 in the seventh after a two-run blast from Ryan Strickland.
 
Southeastern responded with a four-run seventh inning to even the score at 8-8 and force extras. In the 11th, ECU briefly regained the lead on an RBI single from Tremblay, but the Savage Storm answered in the bottom half with back-to-back home runs to secure the 11-9 win.
 
Pryce Jackson led the Tigers at the plate, going 3-for-5 with two RBIs, while Ryan Strickland added a strong performance with two hits and two RBIs. Max Tremblay contributed two hits and an RBI, and Joey Allen and Donovan Noble each drove in a run. ECU also saw multi-hit efforts from Cooper McCage.
 
Simon Baker got the start, working 1.1 innings, while Joel Hogan provided a solid outing in relief with 4.2 innings and five strikeouts. Easton Riddle added an inning out of the bullpen, and Cameron Ebert logged 3.1 innings in relief in the extra-inning contest.
 
In game two, Southeastern struck early with a four-run first inning and never looked back. ECU got on the board in the third when Noble doubled down the right field line to drive in a run, but the Savage Storm answered with three runs in the bottom half and added another in the fourth to take control. The Tigers were unable to generate further offense as the game was called after five innings due to weather, resulting in an 8-1 final.
 
Caleb Peek got the start, tossing 2.1 innings with a strikeout. Caleb Ebert and Greyson Christian provided relief, with Christian adding 2.0 innings and two strikeouts out of the bullpen.