Thursday, March 04, 2010

ETSU faces two ranked teams in week-long journey to UC-Riverside and Fresno

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (March 4, 2010) - Seniors Cheniece Cason (Moreno Valley, Calif.) and Marissa Hardy (Rocklin, Calif.) are set to make their homecoming this weekend when the Lady Bucs wrap up a long stretch of 22 straight road games out in California.

The ETSU softball team is set to see where they rank against some of the nation's elite programs this weekend, as the Lady Bucs' trip to California marks their longest road trip in program history. Along the way, ETSU faces two ranked programs, as well as teams from the SEC and BIG EAST conferences.  

ETSU, who currently sits at 7-5 after its first 12 games, will begin play at the aTEN Construction Tournament in Riverside on Friday afternoon. The first game of the five-game tournament won't be an easy one for the Lady Bucs, as they face 17th ranked Ohio State at 2:30 p.m. inside the Amy S. Harrison Softball Complex. Following their game with the Buckeyes, the Lady Bucs take on the host Highlanders - who are coming off an upset over 5th ranked UCLA on Wednesday afternoon.

On Saturday, the Lady Bucs will look to pick up their second win over a BIG EAST foe this season when ETSU takes on reigning conference tournament champion Notre Dame at 2:30 p.m. The game with the Fighting Irish is the lone contest for the Lady Bucs on Saturday.

Then, on Sunday, ETSU wraps up play with Ohio State (noon) and Riverside (5 p.m.).

As a team, ETSU is coming off a 3-2 trip to Chattanooga last weekend at the Frost Classic where junior right-hander Jessica Duncan (Ooltewah, Tenn.) went 2-1 with a 0.79 ERA (2ER/17.2IP) in the circle. At the plate, sophomore infielder Amy Campbell (Chattanooga, Tenn.) enjoyed the visit to her hometown, as the Chattanooga native led the Lady Bucs with a .455 batting average (5-11). Campbell also recorded two doubles, two RBI and three runs scored.

Fans unable to make the trip to California can catch all the action online through live stats courtesy of UC-Riverside athletics. To access the link visit www.gohighlanders.com or click on the link above.

For more information on Lady Buccaneer softball, visit www.ETSUBucs.com.