ADA, Oklahoma – The Ouachita softball team dropped a Great American Conference doubleheader to East Central University by the scores of 3-0 and 4-1 Friday afternoon on the road.
Game One: ECU 3, Ouachita 0
Defense ruled the first game of the doubleheader as both Ouachita and East Central were held hitless in the first two innings. Ouachita got a runner on base first in the third, but ECU scored first with one run in the bottom of the third. East Central scored two more runs in the bottom of the fifth off of an error to take a 3-0 lead over Ouachita. The Purple Tigers recorded hits in the sixth and seventh innings but that was it and East Central took game one by the score of 3-0.
Baylee King and
Kennedy Wilkie were the two Tigers to record hits as Ouachita outhit ECU 2-1 in the defense-minded loss.
Hannah Hunter got the start and pitched 4.1 innings, gave up just one earned run, and struck out three in the loss.
Game Two: ECU 4, Ouachita 1
It was Ouachita who struck first in game two when
Erin Williams scored on an RBI sacrifice bunt by
Emma Scales in the top of the first inning. It was a pitchers' duel for the next three innings until ECU got on the board with three runs in the bottom of the fifth to take a 3-1 lead. East Central added a fourth run in the bottom of the sixth to increase their lead. Ouachita put a runner in scoring position in the top of the seventh but could not bring them in to score and the Purple Tigers fell by the final score of 3-1.
King and Williams each recorded hits for the Tigers and Scales recorded the lone RBI.
Tuesday Melton pitched a complete game and struck out four in the loss for the Tigers.
The Tigers will look to bounce back tomorrow, Saturday, March 16 in the series finale against East Central. First pitch is set for noon in Ada, Oklahoma.
