Posted: March 21, 2004

Lady Bucs end Virginia Tech tournament on winning note

BLACKSBURG, Va. (March 21, 2004) – Powered by a five-run first inning and another solid pitching effort from sophomore Belinda Barrera (Fayetteville, N.C.), the East Tennessee State University softball team finished the Hokie Fastpitch Club Classic with a winning record thanks to a 9-1 victory over St. Francis on Sunday. With the win, ETSU finished the event at 3-2 with victories over Appalachian State, Mount St. Mary’s and St. Francis, along with tough losses to Marshall and Virginia Tech. Overall, the Lady Bucs are now 17-14 on the season as they prepare for a trip to Winthrop on Wednesday. Against St. Francis, the Lady Bucs struck early in the first thanks to a two-run double by junior Lindsay Lane (Erwin, Tenn.) and a two-run home run by senior Miranda Byerly (Candler, N.C.). The Bucs would score a total of five runs in the inning, tacking on two insurance runs in the fourth, as well as one run in both the fifth and sixth innings. On the mound, Barrera went four strong innings allowing just five hits and one earned run, while striking out three. Sophomore Julia McChain (Dale City, Va.) came on in the fifth and worked two perfect innings, not allowing a hit and striking out two. Offensively, freshman Stephanie Gaynord (Manassas, Va.) led the way for the Lady Bucs with two hits and three RBIs. Along with Lane and Byerly, senior Tiffany McVay (Soddy-Daisy, Tenn.) also picked up two hits and two RBIs. Junior Mary Beth Hazelwood (Knoxville, Tenn.) added two hits for ETSU.