ETSU softball didn’t get the start to the season that they had hoped for during the Charlotte Invitational. They lost their first three games over the weekend before the fourth game vs South Carolina was cancelled due to weather.
In their first game of the season, the Bucs faced off against the defending Big South champion, Campbell Camels.
The Bucs started strong in the matchup and had a 3-0 lead early in the top of the first-inning on, but Campbell would tie it up 4-4 following a four-run inning in the fourth. The Camels wouldn’t slow down as they tacked on four more in the bottom of the sixth to secure their 8-4 win over the Bucs.
The Bucs’ strong start was thanks to Riley Nayadley (Ooltewah, Tenn.) and Sara Muir (Sequatchie, Tenn.), who both had home runs in the opening innings for ETSU.
The Bucs were back in play the very next day with a doubleheader against the Miami (Ohio) RedHawks and the Charlotte 49ers.
The Bucs began their day facing the RedHawks.
Miami would be the first to score in the lead-off inning after a three-up-three-down for the Bucs.
The second inning would see two Buc scores following an error in center field for the RedHawks and give ETSU a 2-1 lead.
There wouldn’t be another score until the bottom of the seventh when Miami tied the game 2-2 before a walk-off RBI ended the Bucs chances in this one 3-1.
After starting (0-2), the Bucs were looking to upset the hometown favorite Charlotte 49ers as the game remained scoreless until the top of the sixth inning when the Bucs would take a 1-0 lead off the bat of Sara Muir once again, giving her two homeruns early into the season and matching her last season total.
With a lead heading into the bottom of the sixth, the Bucs were in control until Charlotte started swinging and rattled off eight scores in the sixth alone to take a dominant 8-1 lead entering the seventh.
Unfortunately, the Bucs did not have enough left in the tank for their third game of the weekend and second of the day. Final score 8-1.
The Bucs (0-3) were expected to play the South Carolina Gamecocks, but poor weather conditions prevented the teams from facing off as the game was ultimately cancelled.
The Bucs will hope to bounce back when they travel to Radford, Va. to take on the Radford Highlanders in a doubleheader on Feb. 21. The games are scheduled for 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.
For more information on ETSU softball, visit ETSUBucs.com/softball.
