WEATHERFORD, OKLA. – The East Central University softball team picked up two Great American Conference victories at Southwestern Oklahoma State. The Tigers (8-8, 3-3 GAC) first claimed a 14-2 victory and then defeated the Bulldogs (0-14, 0-6 GAC) 8-3 in the night cap.
ECU was led by senior Claresha Clemons, who hit .600 for the day, with three hits, three runs and two RBIs. Sophomore Catherine Barrera added a .571 average, four hits, two runs and four RBIs.
Freshman Jacey Henry and freshman Angel Stoker both picked up a win in the circle, with Henry throwing a complete game. Henry recorded a 1.00 ERA, allowed six hits and three runs (one earned) and struck out three. She also tallied three hits, two runs and four RBIs at the plate. Stoker threw 6.0 innings, allowing five hits, two runs and a 2.33 ERA.
The teams will wrap up the GAC series, Saturday, March 3 with a double-header slated to begin at noon in Weatherford, Okla.
ECU 14, SWOSU 2
ECU got the scoring started right out of the gates, earning a 1-0 lead after the first inning. After the first batter was retired, Barrera singled to right center. Henry was added to the base path when she was hit by a pitch. Barrera was able to score when junior Breecia Crawford hit into a fielder's choice, but a SWOSU error kept everyone safe.
The Bulldogs took a quick 2-1 lead after the third inning, but the Tigers responded with six runs in the top of the fourth to regain a 7-2 advantage. Junior Madison Thompson started things with a double, junior Mariah Ewy singled and junior Aundrea Hamric hit into a fielder's choice for the second out with runs on first and second.
Senior Alissa Taylor then reached due to an error to load the bases. That allowed Barrera to earn an RBI with a single. Henry then sent two runs home with a single to left for a 5-2 lead. Crawford added a run with a double to left and freshman Tarah Hilton sent the final run home with a single to left center giving ECU the 7-2 advantage.
The Tigers added to the lead in the fifth, pushing out to an 8-2 advantage. After the first out, Hamric was hit by a pitch and stole second, which put her in scoring position when Taylor hit a double to right center.
Both teams remained scoreless through the sixth inning, but ECU then added six runs in the top of the seventh for a 14-2 lead. After an out, freshman Tatiana Bryant doubled, junior Chloe Wigington was hit and Taylor walked to load the bases.
Barrera then earned an RBI with a sacrifice fly and Henry added two runs with a double. Crawford kept things going with a double that added one more run to the board. Clemons singled to add the 13th run and junior Ellanee Allison reach because of an error to send the 14th run across the plate.
The Tigers allowed two base runners in the bottom of the seventh, but would not let a run cross the plate to earn the 14-2 victory.
ECU 8, SWOSU 3
The Bulldogs scored first, taking a 2-0 lead after the first inning. However, the Tigers responded with four runs in the second inning.
Hilton led off the inning with a double and scored when Clemons singled up the middle. Allison was walked and the game-tying run was scored when Hamric doubled to right. Taylor then added two more runs on a fielder's choice that sent two runs across the plate and gave ECU the 4-2 lead.
Crawford added to the lead for the Tigers with a solo home run in the third. Another run came across in the fourth to put ECU up 6-2.
Allison started the inning with a single, stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. After the first two outs of the inning were recorded, Barrera singled to earn the RBI.
The Tigers pushed the lead to 8-2 in the sixth inning. Clemons led off with a double and was sent home when Hamric singled through the right side. However, there was also an error on the play that allowed Hamric to score.
The final run of the day was added to the board by the Bulldogs in the bottom of the seventh to finish the game with the 8-3 final.
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