Tigers trounce Ouachita Baptist to complete sweep
Mar. 19—The East Central University softball team run-ruled Ouachita Baptist University 12-3 in five innings to complete the three-game sweep at Tiger Field.
With the wins, the Tigers are now 14-15 overall and 5-9 in GAC play as they gear up for their next conference matchup against Henderson State University on the road next week. Ouachita left town at 5-22 and 3-11.
"I loved seeing us put together all of the pieces this weekend." ECU head coach Destini Anderson said. "We had some good timely hits with great defense and pitching. All three games were quality team wins with all 22 players showing up to make a difference. I am incredibly proud of how this group continues to support each other and put in the work each day."
ECU 12, Ouachita 3
ECU wasted no time getting on the scoreboard, with 13 batters stepping up to the plate in the first inning for one of their biggest innings of the season. The Tiger offense erupted for eight runs early on, quickly distancing itself from Ouachita Baptist.
Elyse LeClair, Gabi Quintanilla, and Zoe Acosta all reached base consecutively with singles, setting the stage for Jami Watson to draw a bases-loaded walk, putting the Tigers ahead 1-0. Megan Lesko's hit by pitch then doubled ECU's lead to 2-0 before a miscue on a throw to home plate by Ouachita Baptist allowed Acosta to score with the bases still loaded. Emily Bingham, Josi Goodman, and Elyse LeClair followed up with RBI singles to extend the lead to 6-0, and after Gabi Quintanilla's groundout scored Bingham, Acosta put an exclamation point on the inning with an RBI single of her own to drive Goodman home, solidifying the Tigers' commanding 8-0 lead.
ECU continued to pull ahead in the next frame as Emily Bingham's fly out to center field paired with some smart base running allowed Megan Lesko to score before an RBI double from Josi Goodman plated Cheyenne Adair for a 10-0 advantage.
Despite Ouachita Baptist managing to get on the scoreboard with three runs on three hits in the fourth inning, narrowing the gap to seven runs and avoiding a run-rule, ECU remained resolute.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Gabi Quintanilla put the ball in play to reach first base before Rikki Hadley roped a triple down the right field line to score Quintanilla and give the Tigers an 11-3 lead they needed. In a run-down play between third and home base, Hadley took advantage of a throwing error, securing ECU's 12th run for the cherry on top of a three-game sweep.
Elyse LeClair, Gabi Quintanilla, Zoe Acosta, and Josi Goodman led the offensive charge, accounting for eight of ECU's 12 hits with two apiece while each collecting at least one RBI as well.
Taryn O'Brien tossed a complete game, allowing only four hits in five innings to earn her fourth win of the season.
