The Buccaneers rode a monster performance from first baseman Tristan Curless to secure their 30th win of the season, defeating Toledo 5-3 and clinching the series.
Curless accounted for all five ETSU runs. He went 3-for-5 at the plate, drove in every Buccaneer run, and stole a base. The rest of ETSU’s offense combined for just three hits, but the team made the most of its opportunities. ETSU put runs up on the board first in the third inning after two-out singles by Blake Jacklin and Cooper Torres set the stage. Curless followed with a two-run triple to put the Bucs ahead 2-0. The following inning Toledo scored a run, which set them up to enter the fifth inning with a score of 2-1.
In the fifth, Curless doubled in two more after Jacklin and Torres both got on base again, but instead of hits this time they were both walked, setting the Bucs up with a 4-1 lead. Toledo attempted to rally in the sixth inning, scoring two runs inching closer to ETSU’s lead. They entered the seventh inning with a score of 4-3. Reliever Brady Frederick slammed the door shut on any type of comeback for the Rockets. He pitched 3.2 scoreless innings in relief of starter Michael Harpster, who earned the win after allowing three runs on five hits through 5.1 innings. Curless continued dominance in the seventh, making solid contact to plate ETSU’s fifth and final run of the game, making the score 5-3.
On Friday the Bucs will be traveling to Lexington, Virginia to compete against VMI in a three game weekend series where they hope to continue a great season.
