Monday, February 18, 2002

Johnson City, Tenn. (Feb. 17, 2002) - The East Tennessee State softball team fell to Alabama-Birmingham, 4-1, and host University of South Carolina, 8-0, In the final two games of the Gamecock Invitational from Columbia, S.C. In the first game of the day, ETSU senior first baseman Melanie Collins (Greeneville, Tenn.) drove in the Bucs' first run of the season in the top of the first with a double to center, driving in sophomore pitcher Tiffany Vandergriff (Sale Creek, Tenn.). UAB would score two runs in the bottom of the frame to take a 2-1 lead and never look back. The Blazers would add single runs in the fifth and sixth to seal the game. Vandergriff pitched her second straight complete game, allowing seven hits and three earned runs in her six innings of work. Megan Stephenson and Kerri Foster combined to pitch a two-hitter for Alabama-Birmingham. In game two, host South Carolina took control of the game early, scoring five runs in the bottom of the first. ETSU senior pitcher Marsha Giles (Jonesborough, Tenn.) had a rough outing, allowing five earned runs on five hits in the first inning. South Carolina would score two runs in the fifth and one in the sixth off of Buccaneer reliever Courtney Jenkins (Knoxville, Tenn.). At the plate, the Bucs were led by Vandergriff and freshman shortstop Mary Beth Hazelwood (Knoxville, Tenn.), who each had two hits on the game. The Bucs return to action on Feb. 22 at the University of Georgia Invitational from Athens, Ga. ETSU will face Marshall at 2 p.m. and host Georgia at 6 p.m.