Jimmy Buffet celebration to take place for BucWild members

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (April 16, 2009) - After having its doubleheader at Presbyterian cancelled on Wednesday, the ETSU Softball team will return to the diamond for a single-game contest on Friday evening when the Lady Bucs entertain Virginia Intermont. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. inside the ETSU Softball Complex.

The Lady Bucs are coming off a 5-0 loss at No. 12 Tennessee on Tuesday night and look to bounce back into the win column before returning to conference play on Saturday afternoon.

ETSU (23-19) has been led by the hot bat of junior shortstop Cheniece Cason (Moreno Valley, Calif.) over the last 17 games. Cason, who is currently hitting a team high .339 (40-118), carries a five-game hitting streak into Friday night's game and has hit safely in 14 of the last 17 ballgames. Junior catcher Trisha Massenzo (Russellville, Tenn.) has been outstanding at home, as she is hitting .388 (19-49) with three doubles, a home run and 13 RBIs. Massenzo has reached base in 18 of the 19 home contests and has a hit in every game but two.

The Lady Cobras carry a 16-18 record into Friday night's contest and are led by Autumn Arney and Haley Odle. Arney is hitting a team best .438, while Odle leads the club with 10 home runs and 26 RBIs.

Meanwhile, one Lady Cobra member should have no problem working on a scouting report for the Lady Bucs, as former ETSU standout Amanda Haverman (2005-08) is a current assistant coach for Virginia Intermont. Haverman was a four-year letterwinner for the Lady Bucs where she hit a personal best .305 (55-54) with 11 doubles, six home runs and 37 RBIs in 2007. The 37 RBIs Haverman posted as a junior are the most any Lady Buccaneer player has recorded in a single-season, and the Kirkwood, Mo. native is one of eight ETSU players to post four hits in a game. Haverman belted four hits against Jacksonville back on April 13, 2007.

ETSU's Marketing and Promotions Department along with the Buccaneer Athletic Scholarship Association (BASA) want to show its appreciation to all BucWild members on Friday evening. BucWild, the largest student group on campus, will be rewarded with a Jimmy Buffet celebration, as each member will receive free tropical drinks throughout the game. ETSU fans are also encouraged to wear their tropical attire, as the Lady Bucs look to gain some momentum heading into a critical weekend battle with A-Sun rival Jacksonville.

The Lady Bucs host the Dolphins at 2 and 4 p.m. on Saturday afternoon. Jacksonville, who plays a doubleheader at USC Upstate on Friday afternoon, currently sits two games behind the Lady Bucs in the loss column for the number four seed in next month's conference tournament. A sweep over the visitors from Florida will help give the Lady Bucs some breathing room over Stetson and Jacksonville for seeding in next month's A-Sun Tournament.

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