The wind was nothing to joke about in a close 2-1 victory on April 1 for ETSU softball against the Furman Paladins. Furman and ETSU then split a Sunday doubleheader. With the series win, ETSU moves to 9-23 overall and 2-4 in conference play. The Paladins drop to 12-21 overall and 4-2 in the conference.
Brianna Bailey started in the circle Saturday for the Bucs and pitched all seven innings. She earned the win, improving to 6-6 on the season. Bailey gave up seven hits, struck out five, and gave up only one run in this low-scoring contest.
ETSU came out swinging in the first inning, collecting two hits but failing to capitalize on their hot start and leaving one on base. Bailey held Furman hitless until the top of the third, where Furman had two hits but was unable to bring any runners across home plate.
Furman broke the scoreless game up in the top of the fourth after a single to left field was enough to score a Furman baserunner from third, making the score 1-0. Bailey was back to her normal self in the top of the fifth, as it was three up, three down.
The tale of the game for the Bucs was in the bottom half of the fifth inning. Kasidy Dunn (Friendsville, Tenn.) singled to right field to start the inning off. After a sacrifice bunt by Jessica Odom (Jefferson City, Tenn.), Dunn advanced to second and eventually reached third with only one out. Sara Muir (Sequatchie, Tenn.) fouled out to right field, but it proved to be a key part of the game as she scored the only two runs for ETSU, putting the Bucs ahead 2-1.
Bailey was able to continue her solid performance in the final two innings of the game to secure the win for the Bucs, snapping a four-game losing streak.
