ETSU baseball opened the 2025 season in dominant fashion, sweeping Northern Kentucky in a three-game series at Thomas Stadium. The Bucs cruised to a doubleheader sweep on Friday, winning 14-1 and 9-2, before closing out the weekend with a 6-2 victory on Saturday.
Michael Harpster set the tone on the mound in the season opener, pitching five no-hit innings with seven strikeouts. The Buccaneer offense sparked in the third inning, securing four runs before exploding for six more in the sixth and four in the eighth to cap off a 14-1 win. Derek McCarley closed the game with four strong innings, allowing just one run on two hits.
ETSU’s offense continued its power surge in game two, hitting four home runs to ensure a 9-2 win. Eli Evans, Jamie Palmese, Cody Miller and JD Yakubinis all went deep. Sophomore Jace Hyde kept the Norse in check, pitching 4.2 scoreless innings with three strikeouts. Jackson State transfer Lenny Montesano impressed in his Buccaneer debut, going 3-for-4.
The series finale on Saturday saw the Bucs complete the sweep with a 6-2 win. The sluggers cooled down a bit as there were no homers in the final matchup, but ETSU’s offense still had great rhythm. The Bucs used timely hitting and steady pitching to secure its third consecutive victory. They will look to carry their momentum into their next matchup as they travel to Blacksburg to take on Virginia Tech.
For more information on Buccaneer baseball, visit ETSUBucs.com or follow @etsu_baseball on Instagram and X.
