Coming off a hot three-game win streak, the ETSU softball team looked to continue this dominating performance when entering the weekend games against UNC-Greensboro at home, with two games on Saturday and one game on Sunday.
In the first game, the Bucs were not able to come out on top.
UNC-Greensboro got off to a good start in the first game. They scored six runs in the first two and a half innings and held the lead for the remainder of the game. ETSU did, however, score five runs in the six inning, but UNC-Greensboro matched it with five runs of its own and held the lead until the end of the game, when they defeated ETSU, 11-7.
Heavy hitting from the Bucs in game one came from sophomores Cassi Pickett (Chattanooga, Tenn.) and Kelsey Smith (Tucson, Ariz.), who both hit home runs.
“Every time I step on the field, I play like it’s my last game,” Pickett said. “A lot of thought goes into my preparation for game day. I feel like if I’ve done everything to be prepared, then the game should be fun. When I hit the home run yesterday, I was just concentrating on my timing, and it turned into a big inning for us.”
The second game looked pretty one-sided.
UNC-Greensboro’s star pitcher Stephanie Bryden only allowed the Bucs two hits in all five innings. The Bucs scored once in the first inning, and this would be their first and last. UNC-Greensboro scored four points in the first two innings and six in the fourth inning, giving them a 10-1 lead and ending the game early.
“We just need to focus on winning one ball game at a time,” Pickett said. “Each conference win puts us in a better spot in the SoCon Tournament.”
The Bucs came into game three focused.
In the final game of the weekend series, the Bucs came out victorious.
The game was scoreless for the first two innings, but ETSU was able to put some points on the board in the third inning.
Bethany Cowart (Ringgold, Ga.) doubled to left center and helped her teammates Taylor Carter (Brazil, Ind.) and Malloree Schurr (Montgomery, T.X.) to score.
It wasn’t long before Danielle Knoetze (San Diego, Calif.) homered to left field in the fourth inning to help her and teammate Samantha Carpenter (Forest City, N.C.) add two more points for the Bucs.
UNC-Greensboro only scored once in the sixth inning, and they were defeated, 4-1.
“We have to come out each day and get better,” Pickett said. “I think a major key to having success moving forward is to play for each other. Having each other’s backs helps us have confidence and brings up the energy. I look forward to see how this season turns out and hopefully bring home a SoCon Championship for our seniors and this program. Go Bucs!”
