KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (March 1, 2012) – For a second straight weekend the ETSU softball team will remain in state as the Bucs travel down I-40 to play in the Tennessee Softball Classic, beginning Thursday in Knoxville.

The Bucs – who received strong pitching efforts from sophomore right-hander Katie Wolff (LaGrange, Texas) last weekend at the Frost Classic – will open up play with an exhibition game Thursday afternoon against the Dutch National Team at 3:30 p.m.

Due to heavy rains to hit the region on Friday, the tournament schedule was changed late Thursday night.

Instead of playing four games in the tournament, the Bucs will now only play two as ETSU faces Boston U. Friday at 10 a.m. and No. 8 Tennessee on Saturday at 3 p.m. Every game will be played at Lee Stadium. Originally, the Blue and Gold were also going to face Murray State and Memphis.

Wolff helped guide ETSU (3-10) to a pair of wins last weekend in Chattanooga as the second-year starter went 2-1 with a 0.79 ERA (2 ER/17.2 IP) in the circle for the Bucs. Along with the pair of wins, Wolff tossed her second career shutout in the 1-0 win over Niagara on Sunday, while posting back-to-back seven strikeout games versus the Purple Eagles and UT-Martin to tie her career high.

At the plate, senior outfielder Annie Martin (Centerville, Tenn.) hit safely in all five games at the Frost Classic, while sophomore transfer Casey Horner (Whitesburg, Tenn.) also carried her hot bat with her to Chattanooga. Both Buccaneer batters hit .412 (7-17), while Horner recorded two doubles, a triple, one home run, four RBI and two runs scored. The Whitesburg, Tenn. native has recorded five multi-hit games in her last six contests, and has seen her batting average spike 143 points to .378 as she is hitting .500 (10-20) over this stretch of games.

Fans unable to make the trip to Knoxville can follow all the action via live stats on Gametracker. Live video will also be available for the Tennessee game on Saturday.

Below is a breakdown of each opponent the Bucs will face this weekend.

Boston U.

The Terriers – who have won nine America East Conference Championships en route to making five NCAA Tournament appearances – kicked off their season with a 3-2 mark last weekend at the NFCA Leadoff Classic … Boston defeated Winthrop, South Florida, and Illinois, while dropping games to Illinois State and No. 17 Louisiana-Lafayette … the Terriers were led by sophomore infielder Megan Volpano at the plate, while sophomore pitcher Holli Floetker went 3-1 with a shutout in the circle … Volpano, a Second Team All-America East and All-America East Rookie Team selection in 2011, hit .400 (6-15) with a double and six RBI last weekend in Clearwater, Fla. … as a team, the Terriers hit .276 with six doubles, two home runs, 21 RBI, and 25 runs scored in the five games … Boston U. – who a share of the regular season title in 2011 – was picked as the America East favorite this season … this marks the second meeting between the two programs as Boston U. defeated the Bucs, 3-1, in 2009 down in Clearwater, Fla.

Tennessee

The eighth-ranked Lady Vols enter the tournament on a four-game winning streak and sit 10-3 overall on the young season … Tennessee has already recorded wins over then No. 1 Arizona State and No. 17 Georgia Tech, while shutting out six of its 13 opponents on the season … sophomore righty Ellen Renfroe his recorded all six of those shutouts en route to an 8-0 start in the circle and has struck out 85 batters in 68 innings of work … meanwhile at the plate, junior outfielder/third baseman Raven Chavanne made her season debut last weekend in Clearwater, Fla. and posted 12 hits in 19 at-bats (.632 batting average) … junior infielder Lauren Gibson enters the weekend with six home runs, 17 RBI and 12 runs scored. 

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