JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (March 17, 2009) - Coming off a 9-2 road trip that took the ETSU softball team away from Johnson City for nearly three weeks, the Lady Bucs are finally glad to be back home and take on North Florida in their Atlantic Sun opener on Wednesday afternoon. First pitch of the doubleheader is set for 4 p.m. inside the ETSU Softball Complex.

ETSU, who is off to its best 20-game start in program history at 15-5, have won three straight and 12 of its last 14. During this stretch juniors Marissa Hardy (Rocklin, Calif.) and Darci Gilbert (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) along with sophomore Ashley Boyd (Chattanooga, Tenn.) have combined for six shutouts as well as a 1.44 ERA (19ER/92.1IP). At the plate, junior Katy Jett (Talbott, Tenn.) is leading the Lady Bucs with a .364 batting average (16-44) and 15 runs scored.

North Florida enters play with an 11-15 mark and stands 1-1 in conference action. The Ospreys split with Campbell in A-Sun play and UNF has won six of its last seven games. UNF is led by senior catcher Ashley Battaglia and junior outfielder Kara Rutenbar. Battaglia leads the club with a .325 batting average and has three home runs and 14 RBIs on the year. Meanwhile, Rutenbar is hitting .316 with eight doubles, two homers and 13 RBIs. In the circle, both Shaina Dent and Devyn Findley have five wins, while Dent's 2.42 ERA is tops on the team.

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