The ETSU Lady Bucs face off against the Kennesaw State Owls in the last Atlantic Sun Conference home series for ETSU. Coming off a sweep with Mercer with a comeback win ETSU looked to capitalize and move up in the standings but the Lady Bucs fell to Kennesaw 8-1 and 5-4 in the sweep on Senior Day for ETSU.”We try to keep the girls focused on one pitch at a time,” said head coach Andrea Mangrum.

The first game remained scoreless until the top of the third when a wild pitch by Darci Gilbert let the Owls’ Graham steal home for a 1-0 lead. Kennesaw State didn’t let up and continued the drive in the top of the fourth and after loading the bases a hit player drove in an Owl. Kennesaw wasn’t done yet. With a long fly ball to the fence, the Owls drove in three runs and put another on third. The next batter drove in the runner on third before ETSU finally ended the inning, 6-0 Owls.

The Owls continued to stretch the lead in the top of the sixth when a base hit drove in an Owl and a walk with the bases loaded drove in another, 8-0. ETSU looked to answer the Owls in the bottom of the sixth when the Lady Bucs sacrificed a runner to drive in Lucy Schneider but was unable to score anymore for an 8-1 loss to Kennesaw State.

“The girls are still struggling to find confidence,” Mangrum said. “The girls have to believe that they can come back.”

ETSU came out strong in the second game and after giving up one run in the top of the second the Lady Bucs answered with their own. ETSU started by loading the bases when a hit by Arielle Gardener drove in two of the Lady Bucs.

A failed steal at first allowed Whitley Hensley to steal home for a three run inning, 3-1 ETSU. The Lady Bucs scored again in the fourth after a long fly ball to the fence by Lucy Schneider drove in Chenice Casson, 4-1 ETSU.

The Owls came roaring back in the top of the fifth with a two-run home run by Cross and then a single-run home run by Kulk that tied the game at four.

In the last inning Kennesaw State took the lead on the first player at bat with a single run home run by Burkett, a lead the Owls didn’t give up for the comeback 5-4 win.

“We have to stay focused,” Mangrum said, “and that we have to execute as well.

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