Kangaroos hop past ECU Tigers
Feb. 29—SHERMAN, Texas — The East Central University baseball team traveled to Sherman, Texas for a non-conference game against Austin College, but the Tiger bats went cold, resulting in a 2-0 loss in the single game at Baker Field.
The Tigers fell to 1-15 on the season, while Kangaroos improved to 2-4.
ECU mustered only one hit against Austin College when Christian Whitaker singled to shortstop in the top of the fourth inning. The Tigers tried to get on the scoreboard with the hit as they sent Krew Taylor home, but he was thrown out during the play.
Austin College pitchers Gavin Brady, Zack Czarnecky, and Brant Stuber combined for a one-hit shutout with Brady earning the win after giving up just one hit in 5.1 innings of work, and Stuber came on to get the save after pitching a perfect ninth inning.
Starting pitcher Bryce Crawford allowed two runs on four hits and struck out seven over 5.1 innings while Justin Chitty came in relief going 2.2 innings giving up two hits and striking out three. The game was scoreless through four and a half innings when Asher Thompson got the offense going in the bottom of the fifth with a base hit and advanced to second on a passed ball. Greg Smith drew a walk, and Brandon Hill singled through the right side to load the bases. Ramirez put Austin College on the board two batters later, ripping a single through the left side to score Thompson and Smith
The ECU baseball team will return to action on Friday when the Tigers face Southern Nazarene University for their next Great American Conference series in Bethany.
Note: Ada News Sports Editor Jeff Cali contributed to this report.
