BETHANY, Okla. – The East Central University baseball team closed out its series against Southern Nazarene University in dominant fashion Friday, sweeping the doubleheader to secure the series sweep on the road. The Tigers took game one 10-4 before completing the sweep with a 14-10 victory in game two, highlighted by a grand slam from Ryan Strickland.
 
With the sweep, ECU improves to 15-20 overall and 12-12 in Great American Conference play, earning its sixth straight win. The mark stands as ECU's best overall and conference record at this point in the season since 2016, as the Tigers continue to climb the league standings.
 
In game one, Southern Nazarene struck first in the second inning, but ECU responded in the third to even the score.
 
The Crimson Storm regained the lead in the fourth before Strickland delivered a two-run home run in the fifth to give the Tigers a 3-2 advantage.
 
SNU tied the game in the bottom half of the inning, but ECU broke things open late. A two-RBI single from Max Tremblay in the seventh sparked a three-run frame, followed by a sacrifice fly from Joey Allen to extend the lead 6-3.
 
After Southern Nazarene added a run in the eighth, the Tigers put the game away in the ninth. Tremblay launched a two-run home run before Allen added an RBI single, helping seal the 10-4 victory.
 
At the plate, Donovan Noble led the way with a perfect 4-for-4 performance, scoring four runs. Max Tremblay paced the Tigers in run production with three RBIs on three hits, while Ryan Strickland added two hits and two RBIs. Joey Allen also contributed with two hits and two RBIs, and Pryce Jackson and Cooper McCage each recorded multi-hit performances.
 
On the mound, Joel Hogan earned the win, allowing two runs on eight hits over 4.2 innings while recording two strikeouts. Simon Baker got the start, giving up two runs (one earned) on two hits across 3.1 innings. Evan Groh closed things out with a scoreless inning of relief, not allowing a hit.
 
In game two, Tyler Akers gave ECU an early spark with a leadoff home run in the first inning, but Southern Nazarene responded with a seven-run second inning to take a 7-1 lead.

The Tigers answered in a big way in the third, erupting for nine runs to flip the game. RBI singles from Tremblay, Strickland, Allen, Pryce Jackson, and Logan Jeske highlighted the rally, along with sacrifice flies from DeAngelo Morales and Akers as ECU surged ahead 10-7.
 
Southern Nazarene battled back to tie the game at 10-10 in the fifth, capitalizing on a pair of Tiger errors.
 
However, ECU delivered the decisive blow in the sixth when Strickland crushed a grand slam to left field, giving the Tigers a 14-10 lead they would not relinquish.
 
Ryan Strickland powered the Tigers at the plate with two hits and an impressive five RBIs. Max Tremblay added three hits and two RBIs, while Tyler Akers contributed a hit and two RBIs. Joey Allen chipped in with a hit and an RBI, and Donovan Noble went 1-for-2 with two runs scored.
 
Caleb Peek got the start, going 1.2 innings and allowing seven runs on eight hits while striking out two. Zane Wilson came in next, throwing 2.1 scoreless innings, giving up three hits and striking out four. Cooper Ewing pitched 0.1 innings in relief, allowing three runs while keeping the game under control. Easton Riddle closed out the game, earning the win as he held Southern Nazarene scoreless over the final innings to secure the series sweep.