Bucs wrap up road swing, will begin a two-week home stand Feb. 22

ATLANTA (Feb. 16, 2014) – In its final game of the Panther Invitational, the ETSU softball team fell to host Georgia State, 11-5, Sunday in Atlanta.

Freshmen Taylor Carter (Brazil, Ind.) and Kelsey Chernak (Ooltewah, Tenn.) combined to drive in five runs for the Buccaneers in the second inning.

ETSU began its half of the second inning by putting runners on second and third thanks to an Alex Everett (Soddy Daisy, Tenn.) single sandwiched between a Georgia State error and a pair of passed balls. Chernak, who is pacing the Bucs (3-4) with a .429 batting average, then proceeded to single up the middle to plate Everett and Bethany Cowart (Ringgold, Ga.) and chase Georgia State’s starting pitcher, Eron Milton, from the game.

Later in the inning, Carter blasted a bases-clearing double to right centerfield, driving home Emilie Hensley (Morristown, Tenn.), Nicole Fox (Peachtree City, Ga.), and Danielle Knoetze (San Diego, Calif.).

Carter also pitched three scoreless innings in relief for the Bucs.

In ETSU’s two games Sunday, Carter pitched a total of 10 innings, allowing no runs or walks, while going 2-for-7 from the plate with a home run, a double, and six RBI. Earlier in the day, the Bucs (3-5) took down Big Ten opponent Indiana, 6-0, behind Carter’s first career complete-game shutout.

Whitney Leon (Dandridge, Tenn.) started her second game of the season; however, the junior pitcher was unable to duplicate the solid outing she enjoyed in her first start in which she allowed just one earned run to Butler in four and two-thirds innings of work.

The Panthers (4-1) chased Leon from the game after just two-thirds innings, belting a pair of bases-clearing home runs, including a grand slam by Georgia State’s Megan Litumbe.

Senior Elliana Cabrera (Hayden, Ariz.) replaced Leon, pitching three and one-third innings, allowing three earned runs.

ETSU finished 1-3 in the two-day Panther Invitational after going 2-2 in the Music City Classic last weekend.

The Bucs will begin a two-week home stand Saturday, Feb. 22 when they face off against Oakland at 1:00 p.m., and Siena at 3:00 p.m., on the opening day of the Buccaneer Challenge presented by Holiday Inn.

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