The Bucs’ three-game baseball series against the Western Carolina Catamounts was cut down to just two games after rainy weather rolled through the area on Saturday.
Thankfully, the weather was clear enough on Friday to get in the first two games in the series.
Game day at Thomas Stadium had plenty of ups and downs for the Bucs, who split the shortened-series with the Catamounts, 1-1.
Game one saw the Bucs struggle to get on base with only four hits in the game. A strong showing by both pitchers left each side hitless as they entered the sixth inning.
At the top of the inning, WCU would get their first five batters on base, eventually plating three runs. The 3-0 score would hold up for the rest of the game.
The Bucs could never get things going at the plate themselves.
“We need to do a better job with runners in scoring position,” said ETSU head coach, Joe Pennucci, following the series. “We need more consistent at-bats.”
Game two was a different story for the Bucs.
A much better showing at the plate saw the Bucs take a 5-0 lead by the third inning. David Beam (Knoxville, Tennessee) helped the Bucs establish their dominance early with a two-run homer in the first inning, his third home run of the year. Later in the third inning, Noah Webb (Kodak, Tennessee) would also clear the wall for the fourth time this season.
The Bucs would not look back from there, allowing only one WCU run, going on to win 7-1 and tying the series 1-1 for the afternoon.
The Bucs held the Catamounts in check, as WCU was the top-rated offense in Southern Conference play heading into the series.
“Our guys pitched great against a good WCU lineup,” Pennucci said, following the victory. “They kept us in the game and gave us an opportunity to win.”
A very wet Saturday morning left officials with no choice but to cancel the third meeting in the home series for the Bucs, offering the Bucs an extra day of rest before the team will head to Blacksburg on April 27 to face the 21-13 Virginia Tech Hokies. The game is scheduled for 6 p.m.
