ETSU’s softball won the first game of Tuesday’s twinbill against Elon University, 2-1, thanks to some timely hitting by Miranda Byerly, but fell to the Phoenix in game two, 1-0.
Game one against Elon proved an almost even match considering the teams had nearly even records (ETSU 13-13, Elon 11-12). The game remained scoreless until Lori Nataro scored on an ETSU error in the top of the eighth.
Tiffany McVay didn’t appear ready to give the Phoenix the win. One run ahead, so what?
Though no monkeys were in the stands the ETSU faithfulcould sense a rally coming. And come it did.
In the bottom of the frame, McVay singled in Sheryl Clark to send the game into extra innings.
Then, McVay pitched a flawless ninth to leave the scored tied.
McVay controlled the mound, and Miranda Byerly finally proved master of bats after she obliterated a Phoenix fastball deep into the right field of Kiwanis Park which brought home Danielle Spetar for the winning run.
“It felt absolutley great to finally get a hold of the ball,” Byerly said. “We didn’t hit well all day. We should have hit this pitcher a lot better, but we got bunts when we needed, and our runners did what they needed to do. I got a good pitch to drive and it felt great.”
McVay gave up five hits and one run (not earned), and threw five strikeouts and walked one batter over nine innings. At the plate, she was 1-for-4 with an RBI. McVay improved to 5-4 with the win.
“I felt great pitching and my defense came through as usual,” McVay said. “Most of my pitches were working, including my change up, which I only threw twice.”
McVay said, however, pitching a full game had taken its toll on her pitching hand, but still managed to hold the Phoenix at bay in the ninth.
Whitney Meeks was saddled with the loss for Elon. She went the distance, giving up five hits, both runs and four strikeouts to fall to 6-7.
In the nightcap, Elon’s Jennifer Lamb allowed just two hits in a complete game shutout over the Bucs. Lamb walked three batters, struck out 10 and evened her record at 4-4.
The Phoenix scored the go-ahead run in the top of the third. Notaro singled to left with one out and Jenny Gustin followed with a double. Notaro, scored again on an error and Gustin advanced to third.
ETSU’s Jennifer Fraser got out of the inning without any more harm done, but the Bucs’ bats couldn’t bring home any baserunners.
Freshman Janine Sprague and sophomore Mary Beth Hazelwood were the only ETSU players to get hits off Lamb. Sprague finished 1-for-3 and Hazelwood was 1-for-1 with a walk.
Elon scattered five hits off Fraser, who fell to 5-7.
ETSU, now 15-14, will be in action again this weekend when Southern Conference and interstate rival Chattanooga comes to Johnson City for three-game series. The series begins with a doubleheader on Saturday, which is set for a 1 p.m. start.

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