CONWAY, S.C. (March 7, 2009) - Coming off its best start in school history the ETSU softball team continued to play well splitting its doubleheader against Coastal Carolina (4-10) Saturday at the CCU Softball Field in Conway, S.C. The Lady Bucs (9-4) opened the twin bill with a 6-3 win, while the Chanticleers rallied to win game two 6-2.

In game one ETSU pitcher Marissa Hardy (Rocklin, Calif.) started the game just like she has all season limiting the Coastal Carolina bats to only three hits through the first four innings. After the Chants finally found some offense and a 3-2 lead after six innings of play, the Lady Bucs bats would respond by coming to life in the top of the seventh.

After back-to-back runs off of two Coastal Carolina errors the Lady Bucs would take advantage of the miscues as catcher Trisha Massenzo (Russellville, Tenn.) ripped a single to right field scoring both shortstop Cheniece Cason (Moreno Valley, Cailf.) and outfielder Kate Powell (Johnson City) putting the game out of reach and extending the score to 6-3.

Hardy would go on to close out the Chants in order in the bottom of the fame, giving the junior right hander her fifth win on the season. On the day the Rocklin, Calif., native gave up only three runs on six hits, while striking out five in the complete game effort.

In game two Coastal Carolina would jump out to the early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the third after Stacy Snelling stepped up ripping a two-run double to left-center field.

However, just like they did late in game one the Lady Bucs would respond by tying the game with two runs in the top of the fourth as Cason would drive in right fielder Vicki McCoy (Ringgold, Ga.) and first baseman Jessie Hackworth (Clinton, Tenn.) knotting the game at 2-2.

Unfortunately, for the Lady Bucs Coastal Carolina would break the game wide open an inning later as Sara Maples would score off of a Snelling single giving the Chants a one run advantage. Then after a Lady Buc miscue that kept the inning alive, Kelsey Riffel would step in and delivered a two-out double to left scoring both Coastal Carolina runners, giving CCU a 5-2 lead.

The Chants would go on to add another run in the bottom of the sixth off the bat of Sara Maple who crushed her first colligate homerun, for the final 6-2 score.

Taking the loss for ETSU was Darci Gilbert (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) who falls to 3-2 on the season after throwing 4.2 innings, while Katelin Edward would pick up her third win on the season after allowing two runs in her complete game effort.

The Lady Bucs returns to action as they travel to Charleston Southern, March 9.

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