Wednesday, March 09, 2005

(March 9, 2005) - The Lady Bucs softball squad (6-12) traveled to Knoxville, Tenn. today to face the fourth-ranked Lady Vols in a non-conference doubleheader between the two in-state rivals.  The Vols, riding an 11 game winning streak, took game one by a score of 7-0 and extended their winning streak with a 3-0 sweep of the Lady Bucs during the second game of the day.

After a pair of strikeouts to open play by the UT pitching staff during the first contest of the afternoon, ETSU showed they weren't going to go down without a fight by ripping a pair of two-out base hits to place runners at first and second.  However, the Lady Vols struck out ETSU second baseman Mary Beth Hazelwood (Knoxville, Tenn.) looking to end the threat.  The tough defense and powerful offense of the Vols bats continued to dominate the ETSU squad as the home team took the eventual 7-0 win.

During game one of the two game set, Danielle Spetar (Knoxville, Tenn.), third baseman Lindsay Lane (Irwin, Tenn.), Jessica Lonsinger (Dale City, Va.) and freshman Briana Knight (Brier, Wa.) each registered one hit for the game, while the ETSU pitching staff allowed 12 hits with three strikeouts during game one.

During game two, the Bucs threatened to jump in front in the top of the first inning as ETSU led off the frame against starting UT pitcher Megan Rhodes with back-to-back singles from rightfielder Janine Sprague (Hillsborough, N.C.) and Spetar.  After inducing a fly out to left by Lane and a pop out by Lonsinger, the Tennessee pitching staff ended the scoring threat with a swinging strikeout of ETSU's Hazelwood.  The ETSU offense never gained momentum against the dominating pitching performance of the UT staff, as the Vols took the 3-0 win in game two.

Sprague led ETSU in the second set with two hits, while Spetar added one hit from centerfield for the Bucs.  Pitcher Belinda Barrera (Fayetteville, N.C.) allowed eight hits adding two strikeouts from the mound for the Lady Bucs.

ETSU returns to action this weekend when they travel to Rock Hill, S.C. to participate in the Winthrop Tournament.  Visit ETSUBucs.com for scores and game recaps.