JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (April 18, 2008) - The ETSU softball team received an early Christmas gift Friday night as the Lady Bucs learned they clinched a spot in next month's Atlantic Sun Tournament. Stetson's sweep over Jacksonville solidified ETSU's mark in the conference tournament.

ETSU - who currently stands 8-10 in the league standings - have four games remaining in conference play. The Lady Buccaneers travel to Georgia next weekend and face Mercer on Friday and Kennesaw State Saturday.

The Softball Bucs have a grip on the No. 4 seed and lead Campbell by a half-game, Jacksonville and Gardner-Webb by four games, and Belmont by six. The top six teams in the A-Sun advance to the tournament and out of those four teams - two of them cannot pass ETSU - Belmont and Jacksonville (both teams only have two games remaining).  Lipscomb has already secured the number one seed with its 15-5 mark.

The Atlantic Sun Tournament will be held May 8-10 in DeLand, Fla.

ETSU returns to action Tuesday evening when they take on 19^th ranked Virginia Tech in the Stateline Classic. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. from Whitetop Creek Park, located in Bristol, Tenn. For driving directions, visit http://www.bristoltn.org/whitetopcreek.cfm.

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