Over spring break, the ETSU Softball team took on Ivy League Dartmouth “Big Green” in a best-of-two out-of-three-season series. The first two games ended by NCAA rule of five and six innings, with the Bucs picking up a win by a score of 12-2 while falling 10-2 and 9-4 in the next two games against the traveling away team. Coming into the game, the Bucs held an 11-19 record.
Second-year Head Coach Cheryl Milligan, who brings over 25 years of coaching experience to the Appalachian Highlands is still looking to form a long-term success plan. Coming into a completely tarnished team, stripped of success and image after a plagued scandal two years ago, Buccaneer softball looks to be built into a new-age success story.
In the first game against Dartmouth, the Bucs would earn their first run-rule win since 2023. In just five innings, coming off a double-day game against North Dakota, the Buccaneers would scoop up the 12-2 victory. What initially looked promising would unfortunately fall short of the desired result. Despite coming off the earlier win, Buccaneer softball would drop the next two games throughout the week. With four games in just three days, the Bucs gave it all they could, looking ahead for further success as the young season marches on. What will go to the record books as losses, lessons can still be learned as the team seems to show more and more improvement.
Looking ahead, ETSU Softball will begin their Southern Conference regular season against state line foe, the Western Carolina Catamounts, followed by a late march standoff against the Furman Paladins. What could potentially lead to a season-changing game series will defy where the Bucs land when the season has completed its marathon run in May.
For more information on ETSU Softball, please visit ETSUBucs.com
