After witnessing firsthand the best pitching performance in University of North Carolina-Greensboro history on Friday, March 25, ETSU bounced back and stole two of three from the Spartans on the road.
UNC-G pitcher Chris Mason was lights out on the mound for the Spartans, striking out 16 and leading his team to 6-2 win.
“Mason is one of the top pitchers in college baseball, said ETSU coach Tony Skole. “and he was just on his game. There is not much you can do when someone has a night like that, but our team responded well by winning the next two games.”
During the next game at UNCG’s baseball stadium, the Bucs got the bats going, scoring 16 runs on 17 hits as they end their six-game skid and beat the Spartans 16-8.
Shortstop Chuck Hargis had a great day at the plate going 3-for-4 with three runs scored and two RBI.
Freshman Anthony Russell had a breakout day going 2-for-5 with four RBI.
Brian Lovett (3-2) collected his third win, allowing four runs in five innings of work.
The third game, an ETSU 1-0 victory, belonged to Jeremy Hall (4-1).
Hall shutdown the Spartans fanning a career-high 11 batters and only allowing three hits in 8.2 innings pitched.
Hall did most of his damage in the first five innings, striking out eight and only allowing one hit.
Hall got the start in the final game of the series because he threw 5.2 innings on Wednesday against Tennessee in a tough 15-12 loss and Skole wanted to give the junior a break.
The rest paid off as the Gray, Tenn., native pitched his best game of the season.
Hall’s effort was much needed as ETSU only had five hits in the game.
The lone run of the game came in the top of the first as Hargis scored off Caleb Moore’s sacrifice fly.
The Bucs could not keep their momentum from their March 25-27 road trip as the Elon Phoenix manhandled ETSU at Cardinal Park in the series opener.
ETSU got down early in Friday night’s contest as Elon jumped out to a 6-0 lead after three innings and went on to win 11-1.
The ETSU pitching staff gave up 17 hits, and the Buc offense only mustered five hits on the night in one of the team’s worst all-around performances of the season.
Right fielder Shane Byrne was the bright spot for ETSU as he went three-for-four with two doubles on the night.
“I am extremely disappointed with the energy level our team showed in the game, this was a very lackluster effort,” said Skole.
After ETSU finishes their series with the Phoenix, they will travel to Radford to face the Highlanders on Tuesday at 3 p.m.
The Bucs then head back home to face the Catamounts of Western Carolina for three games.

Author