Thursday, February 21, 2008

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (Feb. 21, 2008) - Coming off a disappointing showing at last weekend's Cox Communications Classic in Florida, the ETSU softball team looks to get back on track as they get set to compete in the Chattanooga Challenge beginning this Friday. The Lady Bucs square off with St. Francis (Pa.) at 2:15 p.m. from Frost Stadium.

After opening the season with a 7-0 victory over Furman the ETSU softball team have dropped six straight. However, to the Lady Bucs' credit, ETSU have been playing some strong competition during this stretch. The Lady Buccaneers faced Florida (now the 7^th-ranked team in the nation twice), ACC foe North Carolina (who is currently receiving 41 votes in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 Poll) and Stetson (last season's A-Sun Tournament Champion).

This weekend ETSU will be tested in the five game challenge as they go up against St. Francis (Pa.), host Chattanooga, Bowling Green, Ball State and Eastern Kentucky. Following their game with the Red Flash, the Lady Bucs take on the Lady Mocs at 4:30 p.m.

ETSU will play a pair of games versus schools from the Mid-American Conference on Saturday. The Lady Bucs kick off the day with Bowling Green at noon and wrap up play with Ball State at 6:45 p.m.

On Sunday, ETSU concludes the tournament when they face OVC foe Eastern Kentucky at noon. Every Lady Buccaneer game will be played at Frost Stadium, except for the Bowling Green contest as it will be at Chattanooga State.

The junior combo of Jessie Hackworth (Clinton, Tenn.) and Vicki McCoy (Ringgold, Ga.) will both look to extend their respective hitting streaks on Friday. Hackworth has hit safely in four straight, while McCoy has hit in three consecutive games. Both Lady Buccaneer players also lead the club in hitting as McCoy is batting .389 (7-18) and Hackworth is 8-for-21 (.381).

Please visit www.ETSUBucs.com at the conclusion of each day full recap of the tournament as live stats or audio will not be provided.