Senior right-hander Randell Shrouder hurled a five-hitter, walked none and struck out six in seven complete innings as the East Central University Tigers upended the Southeastern Oklahoma State Savage Storm 5-1 Friday in the first game of a Lone Star Conference doubleheader.
The second game was tied at 12-all when play was suspended due to darkness, heading into the ninth inning. That contest will be completed on Saturday, followed by the regularly-scheduled doubleheader.
ECU improved to 14-35 overall and 13-28 with the first-game win while SOSU dipped to 24-24 and 20-20.
The only thing which kept Shrouder (3-5) from pitching the shutout was a solo-homer by Torey Oller to lead off the bottom of the third inning.
The Tigers got on the board first with a three-run second inning as Estes singled with one out, while Tyler Pybas and Dusty Rowland were each hit by pitches to load the bases. Then Tyler Gillum, who went 2-for-4 from the plate, hit a two-run double down the left field line to score Estes and Pybas. Rowland later scored from third off a wild pitch to make it 3-0.
In the fifth, Atlee Kile drew a one-out walk, moved up to second on Lucas Armenta’s single. Clint Bowker then reached on a fielder’s choice as Armenta was forced out at second and Kile reached third. Jared Owen, who also went 2-for-4, singled through the right side of the infield to score Kile, making it 4-1.
Then in the seventh, Bowker drew a leadoff walk, advanced to second on an Owen single and moved up to third when Hammons drew a walk. Estes, who also had a 2-for-4 effort from the plate, knocked in Bowker for the fifth and final run of the game.
Nathan Johnson (4-6) suffered the loss for the Savage Storm after working seven complete innings and allowing all five earned runs off eight hits with four walks and six strikeouts.
