ELON, N.C. (Apr. 16, 2005) - A seven-hit, five-run seventh inning lifted East Tennessee State to a 5-0 win over Elon in the second game of Southern Conference softball action at East Field in Elon, N.C.  ETSU also earned a victory in game one by a score of 4-3.

Game two remained scoreless entering the seventh inning.  Junior catcher Jessica Lonsinger (Dale City, Va.) singled to left field before freshman designated hitter Amanda Haverman (Kirkwood, Mo.) doubled to right center to plate freshman pinch runner Stephanie Cope (Maryville, Tenn.) and give the Bucs the decisive run and a 1-0 advantage.  Sophomore first baseman Allison Burnette (Ten Mile, Tenn.) then singled up the middle to put runners on first and third before freshman right fielder Briana Knight (Brier, Wash.) flied out to center field to score Haverman while Burnette advanced to second.  A single by junior left fielder Janine Sprague (Hillsborough, N.C.) moved Burnette to third and Sprague moved to second on a throw home.  Senior centerfielder Dani Spetar (Knoxville, Tenn.) then doubled to score junior pinch runner Courtney Jenkins (Knoxville, Tenn.) and Sprague and put ETSU ahead 4-0.  Senior third baseman Lindsay Lane (Erwin, Tenn.) knocked a double in the outfield gap to push Spetar across the plate and give the Buccaneers the 5-0 win.

Elon recorded two double plays and a triple play during the game.  In the top of the second inning, with runners on first and second with no outs, Burnette popped up to Elon second baseman Paige Goss who made a diving catch and then threw the ball to first base to get out Haverman.  First baseman Laurin Smith then threw to shortstop Tracey Dahlen, covering the bag at second, to get Lonsinger out and record the third out of the play.

Junior starter Belinda Barrera (Fayetteville, N.C.) tallied the win (8-10) for the Bucs after throwing a complete game and giving up no runs on five hits and striking out four.  Whitney Meeks (7-8) was charged with the loss for Elon after hurling seven innings and giving up five runs on 12 hits while striking out four batters.

In the first game of the day, ETSU started the scoring early in the top of the first inning as the second batter, Spetar, hit her first home run of the season.  Then, with two outs, senior second baseman Mary Beth Hazelwood (Knoxville, Tenn.) singled through the left side before stealing second base and scoring on a single by sophomore shortstop Stephanie Gaynord (Manassas, Va.) to put the Buccaneers ahead 2-0.

ETSU (22-24, 8-3) added another run in the top of the third inning when Spetar reached on an error and stole second before another error put Lane on base and plated Spetar.

Elon (21-22, 5-6) responded in the bottom of the inning.  Dani Concepcion was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning before Goss singled up the middle.  Megan Borgaard put down a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners to second and third.  Debbie Zeigler walked to load the bases before an error by the right fielder put Concepcion across the plate.  Sadie Ball then singled through the left side to score Goss and cut the lead to one, 3-2.

The Buccaneers added a run in the top of the sixth when Gaynord homered to center field to give ETSU a 4-2 lead. 

In the bottom of the inning, with Goss on second base, Meredith Miley singled up the middle to score Goss.  But Elon was unable to put any more runs on the board, falling to the Bucs 4-3.

Jenkins (12-11) recorded the win for ETSU after throwing five innings and giving up two runs on six hits and striking out four batters.  Meredith Gay (10-7) suffered the loss for the Phoenix.  She hurled a complete game and gave up four runs (three earned) on six hits while fanning seven batters.

Gaynord led the Bucs from the plate, going three-for-three with two RBI and one run.  Goss and Ball each produced two hits for the Phoenix while Miley tallied two RBI.

ETSU and Elon will complete the three-game conference series on Sunday, April 17 at 1 p.m. at East Field in Elon, N.C.