Sunday, February 19, 2006

STARKVILLE, Miss. (February 18, 2006) - The Lady Bucs' softball team came up winless through rain and miserable conditions at the Bulldog Classic this weekend, dropping Sunday decisions to Tennessee State, 1-0, and to host Mississippi State, 6-0.  With the setbacks, ETSU falls to 1-4 on the season.  Freshman Mary Catherine Vercoe (Signal Mountain, Tenn.) highlighted the weekend, finding a spot on the all-tournament team.

Vercoe had a stellar outing overall against Tennessee State, leading the Lady Bucs with three of the ETSU's six hits with a perfect 3-for-3 showing at the plate.  Vercoe also spent six innings in the circle, giving up just three Tiger hits, and only one run.  The freshman also fanned five batters, while issuing just three walks.

"Mary Catherine pitched a really good game against Tennessee State," said head coach Andrea Roberts from the road.  "She swung the bat really well too.  She was our top performer today.  Courtney Jenkins (Knoxville, Tenn.) also pitched well against Mississippi State.  The score might not indicate it, but she threw really well."

The Bulldogs turned a 0-0 tie into a blowout, scoring five runs with two outs in the bottom of the third.  MSU slammed five hits in the inning, while taking advantage of two ETSU errors.  The Bulldog bats heated up in the inning, pounding three doubles.

The Lady Bucs managed only two hits against the Bulldogs, one coming from Briana Knight (Brier, Wash.) and the other off the bat of Vercoe.  MSU slammed seven hits, getting two apiece from Sammie Joe Bailey and Callye Williams. 

ETSU is back on the road next weekend, spending three days at the Chattanooga tournament, in Chattanooga, Tenn.  The Lady Bucs begin the weekend on Friday, Feb. 24, when they take on Maine at 12:15 p.m.  Throughout the tournament, ETSU is slated to face UAB, Belmont, Miami (Ohio), Virginia and Bowling Green.