JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (April 11, 2008) - The ETSU softball team begins its stretch run Saturday afternoon when the Lady Bucs host Longwood on Senior Day. First pitch of the doubleheader is set for 2 p.m. at Metro-Kiwanis Park.
The Lady Bucs have won four of their last six and sit 20-26 overall. After Saturday, the Softball Bucs only have 11 games remaining (five doubleheaders) - eight with conference foes. Six of those match-ups will be home weekday meetings at Metro-Kiwanis Park.
Sophomore Marissa Hardy (Rocklin, Calif.) has owned the opposition over her last three starts. The right-hander is 3-0 in those starts and has not allowed a run in 13.0 consecutive innings. Hardy is coming off back-to-back shutouts and extended her streak of not allowing an earned run in 20 straight in IP Wednesday night at Appalachian State. While Hardy has been dominant in the circle, sophomore Katy Jett (Talbott, Tenn.) and junior Vicki McCoy (Ringgold, Ga.) are being affective at the plate. Jett is batting .429 (9-for-21) and McCoy is 5-for-13 (.395) over her last six games. Both speedsters have also combined to go 10-for-10 in the stolen base department (Jett 6, McCoy 4).
A pair of seniors will be honored prior to the game on Saturday. Amanda Haverman (Kirkwood, Mo.) and Briana Knight (Brier, Wash.) have meant a great deal to the ETSU softball program the last four seasons and a pre-game ceremony is scheduled to recognize their achievements. Haverman - ETSU's single season RBI holder (37) - has played in 197 career games. Knight has also been consistent for the Lady Bucs as she played in 203 of the 217 games and started in 129 consecutive games from the end of her freshman year through March 17 of this season. Both student-athletes have been stellar both on and off the field as they were named to the Atlantic Sun All-Academic team a year ago; while Knight has been tabbed team Academic MVP the last two seasons and to the Buc 4.0 club in 2007.
Longwood enters the weekend series with a 21-14 mark after splitting with 19th ranked Virginia Tech Wednesday night. The win was Longwood's second victory over a ranked opponent this season as the Lancers also knocked off No. 17 Georgia last month.
The Lancers are led by seniors Ryan Washington and Caitlin Hooe. Washington leads the club with her .379 average and has belted two of LU's six home runs on the season. Hooe - a 5'7" outfielder from Richmond, Va. - is hitting .324 with a team-high nine doubles and has also stolen 13 bases on the season. Freshman left-hander Briana Wells is the ace of Longwood's staff. Wells is 9-6 with a team-leading 2.81 ERA (31 ER/99.1 IP) and posted two shutouts on the year.
Fans unable to attend the game can watch a tape-delay version of the doubleheader, courtesy of ASun.TV. This is the first of three doubleheader match-ups that will be carried on-demand through ASun.TV. Thursday's conference doubleheader with Campbell (Apr. 17) and the Western Carolina series will also be available on Wednesday, April 23. To access ASun.TV, visit http://asun.playonsports.tv/etsu.
For more information on Lady Buccaneer softball, visit www.ETSUBucs.com.
