From ECU Sports Information
STEPHENVILLE, TEXAS The East Central University softball team had a strong day at the plate, hitting seven total home runs over two wins in the second day to the Tarleton State Tournament. The Lady Tigers (7-2) first earned a 10-2 win over Oklahoma Panhandle State and then an 11-2 win against Texas-Permian Basin, both in five innings.
ECU hit .400 as a team over the two games, with 22 total hits, five doubles and seven home runs. Freshman Jordynn VanPelt led the team with a .800 batting average, including a double and a home run, while earning four RBIs on four hits. Senior Shelby Simmons also hit .800 for the day, with four hits, four RBIs, a double and a home run.
Senior Ali Manship had a strong day at the plate and in the circle. Manship earned four hits, including three home runs, a .571 batting average, 1.857 slugging percentage and six RBIs. The Harrah, Okla., native also picked up a win in the second game of the day against Texas-Permain Basin, her fifth of the season. She pitched in one inning and struck out one batter.
We are making a few early season mistakes, but Im very pleased with this weekend, said head coach Destini Anderson. We are playing well as a team right now.
The Lady Tigers will be at Lady Tiger Field for the first time in the 2013 season when they host Northeastern State, Tuesday, Feb. 12. ECU and Northeastern State will play two games, starting at 1 p.m.
Game 3 vs. Oklahoma Panhandle State
The Lady Tigers wasted no time getting on the scoreboard, scoring two runs in the bottom of the first inning. Sophomore Lauren Bancroft got ECU going with a double to center and was advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by senior Shelby Simmons. Senior Ali Manship then came to the plate and recorded her third home run of the tournament and third of the season to right field that put the Lady Tigers up 2-0.
The Aggies added a run in the top of the second to cut the deficit to one (2-1), but ECU tallied four runs in the bottom of the second to go up 6-1.
Freshman Leah Tigert led the inning off by earning a walk. Sophomore Kayci Snider advanced Tigert to third with a double to center field and sophomore Chelsea Patterson earned an RBI with a double to left center a batter later. Simmons then earned three RBIs with a home run down the right-field line.
In the bottom of the fifth the Lady Tigers added three more runs to go up 9-1. Tigert again opened the inning, this time with a single to right field. Simmons singled to center field and Manship loaded the bases after she reached on an error. A wild pitch scored the first run of the inning and advanced the other two runners. Williams then grounded out to first, which allowed Simmons to score. Sophomore Peyton Watson sent the last run across the plate with a single to left field.
In the top of the fifth the Aggies added a run, but the Lady Tigers scored one as well in the bottom of the fifth to make the score 10-2 and end the game after the fifth inning.
Freshman Jordynn VanPelt pinch hit for Patterson and single to left field. Freshman Autymn Suydam went in to run for VanPelt and stole second. Simmons then sent Suydam home with a double down the left-field line.
Game 4 vs. Texas-Permian Basin
The Lady Tigers again wasted no time getting on the scoreboard, with four runs in the top of the first. Simmons started the game with a single to the pitcher and Manship then hit the first of two home runs in the game to score two runs. Junior Gina Mengwasser added a second-straight home run for the third run. Sophomore Lacey Williams reached on a walk and stole second to be in scoring position when VanPelt hit a double to score the fourth run of the inning.
The Falcons cut the deficit to two, with two runs on four hits in the bottom of the first for a 4-2 score.
ECU added five runs in the top of the second inning on two more home runs. Manship hit her second homer of the game and also scored Watson, who had reached on an error. VanPelt then hit a ball over the fence at left center and scored three runs after Mengwasser had single and Williams walked for a 9-2 score.
The Tigers added the final two runs in the third inning off Mengwasser’s second home run that also scored Manship who had laid down a bunt single.
Teri LaJeunesse is the Sports Information Director at East Central University.