The Samford Bulldogs traveled to Thomas Stadium to take down the ETSU Bucs 14-6 Saturday after also winning Friday, 19-7. ETSU avoided the sweep with at 17-12 win Sunday.

Junior Nick Iannantone led the Bucs offensive onslaught Sunday, going 4-5, with a home run, a double and three RBI. Nathanial Tate pitched 6 1/3 innings to get the win Saturday. 

On Saturday, The struggles for ETSU came early as starting pitcher Austin Emener (Macon, Ga.) pitched the first four frames, allowing five runs on five hits and walking five. The junior southpaw is a transfer from the University of North Alabama.

As for Samford, Brody Westbrooks (Cumming Ga.) had a good day on the mound. The pitcher got a quality start, throwing six innings and allowing six hits, five strikeouts and zero runs.

The impact player in today’s game was Samford infielder/designated hitter John Anderson (Oakwood, Ga.) who went 3-5 with two home runs and 7 RBI’s. He crossed home himself three times.

The late rally by the Bucs was not enough to come back with ETSU scoring six runs in the final three innings, three in the 7th and three in the 9th.

The ninth inning runs came from two home runs. The first was a solo shot from Garrett Wallace (Sanford, Fla.), and the second a was two-run homer from Ryan McCarthy (Knoxville, Tenn.) scoring Noah Webb (Kodak, Tenn.).

Samford’s RHP Brody Westbrooks (1-1) was credited with the win.

Bucs LHP Austin Emener (2-3) was tallied with the loss.

The Bucs 2023 campaign is even at 11-11, while Samford is 13-11. 

ETSU will travel to Virginia to play a one-game series at Radford March 28.

The Bucs will come back to Thomas Stadium on March 31 to play in a one-game series against Seton Hall.

For more information about ETSU Baseball, visit the ETSU Baseball website.

Photo of ETSU baseball players and coach during game. (Contributed/ETSU Athletics)

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