Johnson City, Tenn. (Apr. 21, 2002) -- The UNC Wilmington softball team defeated East Tennessee State, 6-4, Sunday afternoon from Metro-Kiwanis Park in Johnson City, Tenn. to win two of three games in the weekend Southern Conference series. The Bucs (20-26, 8-10 Southern Conference) opened the game quickly, scoring two runs in the bottom of the first. Sophomore pitcher Tiffany Vandergriff (Sale Creek, Tenn.) led off the inning with a single to left field. Freshman center fielder Danielle Spetar (Knoxville, Tenn.) followed with a bunt single to place runners on first and second. With one out, senior designated player Melanie Collins (Greeneville, Tenn) came to the plate and belted a ball off of the left-center field fence, scoring both runners with a stand-up double. Following the double by Collins, Seahawk starter Amanda Wilson regained her composure and held the Buccaneers scoreless for the next five innings. UNC Wilmington (19-27, 6-11 SoCon) came right back and tied the game at two in the top of the second. With one out in the inning, first baseman Chrissy Freaney singled to left field. Designated player Jamie Gostyla followed Freaney with another single to left field. Following a passed ball, Freaney and Gostyla would cross the plate on a single by third baseman Christy Ross. The Seahawks got back on the board in the top of the sixth as they took a 3-2 lead. Catcher Lauren Mattox led the inning off with a triple to right field. Ashley Niggebrugge came on to pinch-run for Mattox and scored on a double by Freaney. UNCW expanded their lead to 6-2 after scoring three more runs in the top of the seventh. Second baseman April Owens reached on an error to begin the inning. Left fielder Christina Elmore then reached on a fielder's choice as Owens advanced to second on another error. The two runners advanced into scoring position on a groundout before outfielder Summer Chriscoe struck out, but reached first on a passed ball, scoring Owens. Mattox then walked and came home with Chriscoe on a two-run single by right fielder Tiffany Lindemann. The Bucs made things interesting in the bottom of the seventh. Freshman outfielder Amy Moore (Jacksonville, Fla.) led off the inning by reaching on an error. With two outs, Spetar came to the plate and crushed a ball over the left-center fence to cut the lead to two, but that was as close as the Bucs could cut it. Wilson picked up the win (6-7), going the distance, allowing two earned runs on six hits. Vandergriff also pitched a complete game, but took the loss (5-8), allowing three earned runs on ten hits, striking out four. Spetar and sophomore first baseman Miranda Byerly (Candler, N.C.) led the Bucs with two hits each. Spetar led the team with two runs scored and two RBI. Freaney went 3-4 with a run scored and an RBI for the Seahawks. Lindemann and Ross each registered two RBI in the game. East Tennessee State returns to action on Tuesday afternoon at 3:00 p.m. as they face Radford in a non-conference doubleheader from Metro-Kiwanis Park in Johnson City, Tenn.