JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (March 16, 2012) – With heavy rains and thunderstorms washing out its originally scheduled home-opener on Thursday, the ETSU softball team will try to open the home portion of its schedule with a pair of wins on Saturday afternoon when the Bucs host Presbyterian at Betty Basler Field. First pitch of the doubleheader is set for 1 p.m.

The Bucs and Mountaineers completed one inning of play and had two outs in the top of the second when the thunder, lightning, and heavy rains came down on Betty Basler Field, which washed out the doubleheader. No make-up date was announced on Thursday night, but ETSU and Appalachian State will play a scheduled doubleheader in Boone, N.C. next month.

ETSU (7-15) – who is hitting .340 (71-209) with nine doubles, two triples, and five home runs, while nearly averaging seven runs per game in their last seven outings – rank fourth overall in the A-Sun in batting average (.286) and runs scored (108) through its first 22 games of the year.

After having the stats become unofficial on Thursday, freshman outfielder Alex Everett (Soddy Daisy, Tenn.) still carries her six-game hitting streak into Saturday’s game, while senior Marlina Delisa (Tucson, Ariz.) has reached base safely in her last seven contests. Along with Everett and Delisa, junior Tara Hartnett (Snellville, Ga.) and sophomore Jackie Baird (Ooltewah, Tenn.) have seen their batting averages rise over the last seven games.  Hartnett is hitting .533 (8-15) with a triple, four runs scored and six RBI, and Baird is 7-for-14 with two doubles, a home run, four runs scored and four RBI during this stretch.

Presbyterian is coming off a sweep over North Carolina Central on Tuesday in Clinton, S.C. and carries a record of 7-12 into play on Saturday.

The Blue Hose are led by freshman Jill McLean’s .286 batting average, while freshman utility player Shelby Petik has five doubles, a home run, and eight RBI in 19 games played this season. In the circle, senior right-hander Leslie Hensley leads the club with four wins as she has tossed shutouts against Mercer and N.C. Central, while freshman righty Kensley Loudermelk is 2-2 with a team-best 2.19 ERA (10 ER/32.0 IP) in 10 appearances.

This marks the third straight year the Bucs and Presbyterian meet as ETSU leads the all-time series, 4-2. The Blue and Gold swept the Blue Hose in Clinton, S.C. last season as Sam Lower (Sebring, Fla.) and Delisa both hit .571 en route to leading a team offense that hit .349 (22-63) in the doubleheader. Meanwhile, in the circle, senior Shelby Morris (Mt. Juliet, Tenn.) earned a win after allowing two runs (one earned) on two hits, while striking out five in four innings for relief.

Fans unable to make the trip to Johnson City can watch the game live on A-Sun.TV (weather permitting), while live stats will be offered via Gametracker.

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