The air was warm at Thomas Stadium on Friday, Feb. 13, where ETSU hosted their baseball season opener against Marist.
The Buccaneers started strong with a 2-0 lead after forcing the first run of the season late in the first inning, thanks to Ian Guanzon’s sacrifice fly. ETSU didn’t score again until their comeback at the bottom of the eighth, after Marist had put themself at a 4-2 advantage over the past few innings. With one out, Jamie Palmese opened the rally with a single. Then Axel Melendez and Tyler Fetterman drew walks to load the bases. Tristan Curless crushed a grand slam– ETSU’s first home run of the season– to flip the game and put the Bucs ahead 6-4.
ETSU’s win was a hard fought team effort from every position on the pitch. Curless finished with five RBIs and was the one who sparked the comeback that decided the game. Palmese set up the eighth-inning rally, as well as recording two hits. Guanzon contributed offensively early, delivering two hits including the RBI sacrifice fly that gave ETSU an early 2-0 lead.
That big late home run from Curless was the highlight that secured the season’s first win for the Bucs, who are now 3-1 on the season after a loss to Virginia Tech on Tuesday, Feb. 17. ETSU won the final two games of the Marist series, 7-5 and 7-2.
The Bucs will next face Sacred Heart at home in Thomas Stadium Feb. 20.
For more information visit etsubucs.com/sports and click on the baseball tab.
