Bucs split games in Day Two of Music City Classic

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Feb. 8, 2014) – During a bizarre day strewn with delays and frigid temperatures, the ETSU softball team split a pair of games at the Music City Classic, beating Belmont, 8-2, before losing narrowly to Butler, 3-2.

Trailing 2-1 against Belmont in ETSU’s first game of the day, the Bucs (1-2) used a potent offensive attack to come from behind to beat the Bruins (1-2).

Senior Katie Wolff (LaGrange, Texas) led off the fifth inning with a single to center field before being relieved by pinch runner Latosha Rectenwald (Whitesburg, Tenn.) on the base paths. The next batter, senior catcher Jackie Baird (Ooltewah, Tenn.), drove a Brittanie Albright pitch for a two-run home run to give the Bucs their first lead of the game at 3-2.

ETSU would go on to score two more runs in the inning to extend its lead to 5-2 before adding three more runs in the seventh inning.

“During the first game, we came out and had a more aggressive approach at the plate,” ETSU head coach Brad Irwin said. “We took advantage of opportunities when we had them.”

Wolff and freshman Taylor Carter (Brazil, Ind.) combined to pitch seven innings for the Bucs, allowing just two earned runs. Carter was credited with her first career collegiate victory.

Carter also went three-for-four at the plate, driving in a run the third inning.

“It was really an all around game,” Irwin said. “It was good to see. Several people produced offensively.”

The Buccaneers' offense was unable to duplicate those results during its second game of the day, scoring just twice against Butler and eventually falling, 3-2, in extra innings.

Shut out until the seventh inning, ETSU was able to plate a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to force the game into extra innings; however, ETSU fell just short, losing 3-2.

Behind a solid pitching performance by sophomore Kristin Gutierrez, the Bulldogs (2-0) outlasted the Bucs in eight innings thanks to a game-winning run by Kristen Boros.

“Gutierrez did a good job and was really effective,” Irwin said. “We were a little slow at making our adjustments offensively. I need to do a better job of making adjustments offensively.”

The Buccaneers will conclude play at the Music City Classic Sunday, Feb. 9 when they take on Detroit at 2:00 p.m. EST.

“Offense is going to be a big focal point,” Irwin said. “We need to keep evolving and making adjustments. If we are able to learn from that second game to our benefit, we will be better off.”

Live stats for the Buccaneers' match-up with Detroit can be found by clicking here or by visitng the Music City Classic "Tournament Central."

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