HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – The East Central University baseball team opened its Great American Conference Tournament run in thrilling fashion Thursday, knocking off top-seeded Arkansas-Monticello 7-6 in 10 innings at Majestic Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
In just their second appearance in the GAC Tournament, the No. 8 Tigers delivered a statement win, earning the program's first-ever opening game victory in GAC Tournament play and building momentum heading into the next round.
With the win, ECU advances in the tournament and will face Southern Arkansas on Friday at 4:30 p.m. as the Tigers look to continue their postseason run.
Arkansas-Monticello struck first, plating three runs across the opening two innings to take an early 3-0 lead. The Tigers responded in the third as
Donovan Noble drove in a run with a single to get ECU on the board.
ECU continued to chip away, tying the game in the fifth behind an RBI single from
Max Tremblay and a run-scoring play from
Ryan Strickland. The Tigers then took their first lead in the sixth when
Cooper McCage brought home a run on a fielder's choice to make it 4-3.
The Boll Weevils answered back in the seventh to regain a 5-4 advantage, but ECU refused to back down. In the eighth, Noble delivered a sacrifice fly to even the score before the Tigers capitalized on an error to take a 6-5 lead. UAM once again responded, tying the game at 6-6 and forcing extra innings.
In the 10th, ECU found its moment.
Christian Fernandez delivered the go-ahead RBI double to center field, scoring Noble and giving the Tigers a 7-6 lead. Tiger pitcher
Evan Groh held strong in the bottom half, shutting the door to secure the extra-inning victory.
Donovan Noble led the Tigers at the plate, going 2-for-3 with two RBIs, two runs scored, and two walks.
Tyler Akers and
Logan Jeske each added two-hit performances, while
Christian Fernandez delivered the biggest swing of the night with a go-ahead RBI double in the 10th inning.
Max Tremblay,
Ryan Strickland, and
Cooper McCage each drove in a run as ECU combined for timely hitting throughout the extra-inning victory.
After a challenging first two innings,
Ryan Dembroski bounced back in a big way, grinding through 6.2 innings with six strikeouts to keep ECU in the fight.
Andrew Black bridged the late innings, and
Evan Groh was lights out in extras, delivering 2.0 shutout innings to close it out and earn the win.
