Sunday, February 21, 2010

CHARLESTON, S.C. (Feb. 21, 2010) - Sophomore Skyler Barnett (Johnson City, Tenn.) drove in the walk-off run for the ETSU baseball team as the Buccaneers picked up a 10-9 win over Delaware Sunday at Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park in Charleston, S.C.

"I thought it was a great team win today," said head coach Tony Skole. "I was really proud of our guys. Again I thought we showed a lot of poise after getting behind early to sort of control the ebb and flow of the game by not letting our emotions get too high or too low. That is showing some signs of maturity."

For the second straight day freshman Scott McNally (Marietta, Ga.) came in for the Bucs (2-1) and earned the victory going 1.1 innings to improve to 2-0 on the season. Eric Buckland was tabbed with the loss for Delaware (0-3).

"We had to use a lot of pieces to the puzzle today," Skole said. "I think our depth was challenged, and the guys who came off of the bench came out and really did a good job. It was a tough weekend for us to come out and play without really being prepared as far as preseason practices, but I am glad to get two out of three wins."

The Blue Hens pounded out five runs in the top of the second to jump out to a 5-0 lead. Delaware got on the board on an Aaron Mascoe swinging bunt single down the third base line with the bases loaded to make the score 1-0. In the next at bat, third baseman Carlos Alonso drove the first pitch over the fence in left for a grand slam.

Sophomore Andrew Green (Powell, Tenn.) cut the Delaware lead to 5-1 in the bottom of the second as he singled up the middle scoring catcher Derek Trent (Kingsport, Tenn.).

In the bottom of the third, first baseman Paul Hoilman (Johnson City, Tenn.) crushed his second home run of the tournament and season as he blasted a ball over the fence in left center for a two home run to make the score 5-3 Blue Hens.

ETSU kept things rolling in the bottom of the fourth as left fielder Chas Byrne (Johnson City, Tenn.) singled in Green to cut the Delaware lead to 5-4. The Bucs took the lead later in the inning on a two-run single by centerfielder Matthew Scruggs (Knoxville, Tenn.) to make the score 6-5.

The Blue Hens regained the lead in the top of the seventh on a two-run home run down the right field line by first baseman Ryan Cuneo to go in front 7-6.

Trent answered for the Buccaneers in the bottom of the seventh as he blasted a towering three-run home run over the fence in right to give the Bucs a 9-7 lead.

Delaware came back again though in the top of the eighth scoring two runs on an ETSU error and a RBI double by Cuneo to tied the score at 9-all.

With the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth, sophomore Skyler Barnett (Johnson City, Tenn.) drove a ball down the first base line allowing Scruggs to beat the throw to the plate to make the final 10-9 Bucs.

Scruggs, Hoilman and Trent all had good days offensively for the Bucs. Scruggs had a team-high three hits and swiped two bases. Hoilman was 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI, while Trent was 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI.

ETSU had a season best five stolen bases in the game including three in the fourth inning.

The Bucs open the home season on Friday at 3 p.m. as St. Peter's comes to town for a four game series. Please visit www.ETSUBucs.com for more information on ETSU baseball and all other Buccaneer athletic news.

ETSU 10, Delaware 9 (Feb. 21, 2010 at Charleston, S.C.)
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UD................. 050  000  220  -  9    14     1   (0-3)

ETSU............ 012  300  301   - 10   13     2   (2-1)

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Pitchers: ETSU - Bo Reeder; Kerry Doane (7); Scott McNally (8)

UD - Rich O'Donald; Michael Londino (5); Eric Buckland (8); Devon Pearson (9)

Win - Scott McNally (2-0) Loss - Eric Buckland (0-1) 

HR - ETSU - Paul Hoilman (2); Derek Trent (1)

UD - Carlos Alonso (1); Ryan Cuneo (1)