The ETSU softball team fell to Marshall, 3-2, and host University of Georgia, 7-0, on Friday in the first two games of the University of Georgia Invitational, from Athens, Ga.
In the first contest, Marshall (2-5) jumped out early scoring a run in the top of the first inning.
The Thundering Herd’s Nichole Corrigan singled to lead off the inning and later came around to score on a RBI sacrifice fly by De’Shaun Drake. Marshall struck for another run in the bottom of the third inning as Vanessa Clarkson stroked a double that scored Drake.
ETSU (0-6) fought back in the top of the fifth inning, scoring two runs to tie the game at two.
The bats of the Thundering Herd would not remain silent for long as they took back the lead in the bottom of the inning off of a home run by sophomore pitcher Sarah Chamberlain.
Chamberlain went the distance on the mound for the Herd giving up only six hits.
In game two, Georgia (17-0) wasted no time, scoring four runs in the first inning against the Bucs.
Georgia’s Kim Wendland batted in two runners with a rocket line drive down the right field line scoring Julie Milner and Tyree. Katie Lewis also turned in a 2-for-3 offensive performance.
Bulldog pitcher Nicole Urban pitched five spectacular innings, striking out seven and allowing only one hit.
Hawkins closed out the game in similar fashion as the first, allowing no runs and hits in two innings.
—
The Buccaneers won their first two games of the season, defeating Marshall, 6-3, and defeating Southern Conference rival Appalachian State, 7-0, on Saturday from the University of Georgia Bulldog Invitational in Athens, Ga.
In game one against Marshall (2-7), the Thundering Herd jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first.
But in the bottom of the inning, ETSU (2-6) scored a run of their own to tie the game at one.
The Bucs continued their hot hitting in the bottom of the second, scoring three more runs to make the score 4-1.
Marshall scored a run in the fifth, but again the Bucs answered, scoring two more runs in the sixth, to make the score 6-2.
The Herd tried to make a comeback in the seventh, tacking another run on the board, but 6-3 was as close as they would come.
ETSU wasted no time getting on the board in game two against Appalachian State (1-5). Sophomore Tiffany Vandergriff singled and, later in the inning, would score on a passed ball.
After reaching on an error, freshman Mary Beth Hazelwood scored on another error to make the score 2-0 after the first inning.
The Bucs would strike again in the second as Vandergriff belted her first homerun, scoring freshman Courtney Jenkins who singled earlier in the inning.
At the end of two innings, ETSU held a 4-0 advantage over ASU.
ETSU scored three more runs in the top of the fourth to give it the final margin of victory, 7-0.
Vandergriff singled to again score Jenkins, who reached on an error.
After stealing second base, Vandergriff was sent home on a double by sophomore Sheryl Clark. Clark scored on a sacrifice fly by sophomore Miranda Byerly.
The offensive star of the game was Vandergriff, who went 3-for-4 with her first home run of the season. She scored three runs, had three RBIs and a stolen base.
Senior Marsha Giles pitched a complete game, allowing just four hits, to collect her first career shutout.
ETSU next plays at Elon University on Wednesday.

Author