Friday, February 19, 2010

ATLANTA, Ga. (Feb. 19, 2010) - Fresh off its sweep over Furman on Thursday, the ETSU softball team looks to carry the success with them to Atlanta, as the Lady Bucs gear up for the Panther Invitational this weekend at Georgia State.

ETSU (2-1) bounced back in a big way on Thursday afternoon thanks to the hot bats from Katy Jett (Talbott, Tenn.), Sam Lower (Sebring, Fla.) and Lucy Schneider (Dade City, Fla.) along with solid pitching efforts from Darci Gilbert (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) and Jessica Duncan (Ooltewah, Tenn.).

Jett and Lower both gave the Lady Bucs a boost offensively with two-run home runs; while Schneider hit .400 with two doubles and four RBI. In the circle, Gilbert guided ETSU to its first win of the season after tossing a complete game and allowing three runs on eight hits, and Duncan picked up her first win as a Lady Buccaneer in game two. The junior right-hander tossed six solid innings, giving up two runs on six hits and recording six strikeouts.

On Saturday, the Lady Bucs open play at the Panther Invitational with a 10 a.m. first pitch against Temple. The Owls finished the 2009 season with a record of 15-25, and 6-8 in the Atlantic 10. Saturday marks the season-opener for Temple and they were picked to finish sixth in the preseason coaches poll.

Following ETSU's morning affair with Temple, the Lady Bucs return to the diamond Saturday afternoon to take on Ohio Valley Conference foe Eastern Illinois at 2:30 p.m. The Panthers return eight starters and 13 letterwinners from last season's team that finished 25-29, 9-14.

On Sunday, the Lady Bucs take on host Georgia State at 12:15 p.m. The Panthers opened the 2010 season on Wednesday with a 6-5 come-from-behind win over Auburn at home. Georgia State scored four runs in the seventh to tie the game at five, and the Panthers won the game in the bottom of the eighth on a sacrifice bunt.

After the game with the Panthers on Sunday, the teams will be seeded based on their tournament record, and play a championship and consolation game.

Each game this weekend will be played at Bob Heck Stadium.

To access live stats for each game, please click on the link above.

For more information on Lady Buccaneer softball, stay tuned to ETSUBucs.com.