DURANT, OKLA. – The East Central University softball team got the 2017 season started on the right foot, earning two wins on the first day of the Southeastern Regional Invitational. The Tigers first claimed a 2-1 win over Texas A&M-International and then a come-from-behind 4-2 victory over Rockhurst.
ECU was led at the plate by freshman Catherine Barrera and sophomore Ellanee Allison. Barrera went 3-for-3, with a double and two RBIs, while Allison added a .500 average, three hits and two RBIs.
A total of four pitchers saw action in the circle, with freshmen Karlie Milburn and Caitlin Kneblik each claiming a win and Milburn adding a save. Milburn came in during the first game and threw the final three innings to pick up the win. She also pitched the final inning in the second game to earn the save, allowing just one hit and striking out four.
Kneblik was in the circle for 4.5 innings against Rockhurst, allowing one hit and one run to pick up the win.
The Tigers will return to the field Saturday, Feb. 4 for the second day of the tournament to face Emporia State (noon) and Pittsburg State (2:30 p.m.). The final day of the event will pit ECU against St. Edward's (9:30 a.m.) and Missouri Southern State (2:30 p.m.), Sunday, Feb. 5.
ECU 2, Texas A&M-International 1
It took until the fourth inning for both teams to get on the scoreboard in the opening game of the season. The Dust Devils (0-1) were the first to score, picking up their lone run of the game on two hits in the top of the fourth.
The Tigers responded immediately in the bottom of the inning to tie the game at one. Freshman Jaclyn Willis started things off with a double to left and was sent to third when the next batter grounded out. After the second out, Allison earned the RBI with a single up the middle.
ECU gained the lead in the fifth for the 2-1 lead. The first batter was sent back to the dugout, but redshirt sophomore Aundrea Hamric then singled to right and stole second. The runner was advanced to third on a single from Barrera and when junior Alissa Taylor reached due to an error the run scored.
The Tigers then sent TAMI's next six batters back to the dugout to claim the win.
ECU 4, Rockhurst 2
The Hawks (0-2) were the first to get on the scoreboard in the second game of the day, taking a 0-1 advantage in the second inning.
ECU had to wait until the top of the sixth to even things out. Junior Claresha Clemons reached due to an error and was sent to third on a pass ball. That allowed Barrera to earn an RBI with a double to left field.
Rockhurst countered with a run in the bottom of the inning to regain the 1-2 lead heading into the final stanza.
That didn't scare the Tigers, as they rallied to score three runs in the seventh for a 4-2 lead. After the first out, freshman Lindsay Wade and Taylor singled and freshman Lindsae Walker was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Clemons then hit into a fielder's choice, but the throw home was not controlled and the run scored. Barrera then added her final single of the day to score the second run. The final run came across the plate on a single up the middle by Allison.
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