COOKEVILLE, Tenn. (April 23, 2012) – Coming off its thrilling split with Stetson, the ETSU softball team looks to build a winning streak when the Bucs head to Cookeville for a non-conference twin bill with Tennessee Tech on Tuesday evening. First pitch is set for 4 p.m. (Eastern) from Tech Softball Stadium.

ETSU (11-30) snapped its 24-game Atlantic Sun Conference losing streak with a 3-1 win over Stetson on Saturday evening at Betty Basler Field, while also picking up its first win since sweeping Western Carolina on March 28. Senior Annie Martin (Centerville, Tenn.) helped lift the Blue and Gold to the two-run victory over the Hatters as she drove in the game-winning runs with a two-run single in a three-run fifth inning, and also pulled in a game-saving catch with two outs and the bases loaded in the sixth. Sophomore righty Katie Wolff (LaGrange, Texas) – who has pitched well enough to win in a handful of A-Sun starts – earned the victory after allowing one unearned run on nine hits in the complete game effort.

Martin and freshman outfielder Alex Everett (Soddy Daisy, Tenn.) lead the team with 40 hits each, while Martin also leads the Bucs in runs scored (22) and triples (3). In addition to Martin and Everett, junior outfielder Tara Hartnett (Snellville, Ga.) has provided the biggest spark as of late. In her last 24 games, Hartnett is hitting .368 (25-68) with two doubles, a triple, nine runs scored, and seven RBI, while sophomore Jackie Baird (Ooltewah, Tenn.) has four doubles, three home runs, and 15 RBI during this stretch as well.

Tennessee Tech (20-24) swept SIU-Edwardsville this past weekend in Cookeville and has won six of its last nine games.

The Golden Eagles have been led by senior Holly Thomas’ strong pitching in 2012, as she has earned 14 of Tennessee Tech’s 20 wins and has recorded three shutouts, while also limiting opponents to a .203 batting average. At the plate, sophomore outfielder Kayla Floyd is hitting .375 in limited action at the plate, and junior infielder Chanelle Splading leads Tennessee Tech in hits (37) and run scored (19) in 44 games played.  

Tuesday marks the 16th and 17th games in the series as Tennessee Tech holds an all-time lead of, 12-3. The Golden Eagles won the first eight games of the series before the Bucs took three of four from 2004-08, but Tennessee Tech has taken the last three meetings. This marks ETSU’s first trip to Cookeville since the Blue and Gold split with the Golden Eagles back on April 21, 2005.

Fans unable to make the trip to Cookeville can follow live stats online via Gametracker through ETSUBucs.com, while live updates will be posted on Twitter @ETSUAthletics.

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