Baird belts 26th career long ball to become ETSU's all-time home run leader

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (April 3, 2014) - Senior Jackie Baird (Ooltewah, Tenn.) and freshman Taylor Carter (Brazil, Ind.) combined to drive in five runs, helping lead ETSU to a 5-1 win over Presbyterian in Game Two of Thursday's double-header. With a solo homer to lead off the sixth inning, Baird became ETSU's all-time leader for home runs with 26, surpassing Stephanie Gaynord (2004-07).

Last weekend, Baird broke Gaynord's program record for single-season home runs. The Ooltewah, Tenn., native, who now has 13 homers on the season, entered Thursday's double-header ranking fourth in the nation for home runs per game (0.41).

Trailing 1-0 through three innings in Game Two, ETSU's offense came alive, with Alex Everett (Soddy Daisy, Tenn.) leading off the inning with a single before moving to third following a stand-up double by Katie Wolff (La Grange, Texas). Baird drove Everett home, reaching base on a fielding error by the shortstop.

With two outs and runners on first and second, Carter ran the count full before driving a homer to deep centerfield, extending ETSU's lead to 4-1.

Carter picked up the win for the Buccaneers (15-18), pitching a complete-game five-hitter and striking out five en route to moving to 10-6 on the year. The Brazil, Ind., native entered Thursday's contests ranking second in the nation for fewest walks per seven innings (0.50).

Baird's record-breaking, sixth-inning solo homer helped seal the 5-1 victory for ETSU.

In the opening game of Thursday's double-header, the Bucs carried a 5-3 lead through five innings, but the Blue Hose (19-16) rallied, scoring four runs in the sixth and one run in the seventh, to earn an 8-5 victory. Erin Ruff slugged a grand slam in the sixth inning.

Presbyterian's comeback win overshadowed solid offensive performances by ETSU's Danielle Knoetze (San Diego, Calif.) and Alex Everett (Soddy Daisy, Tenn.). The two combined to go 4-for-7 from the plate, driving in four of the Bucs' five runs.

Junior pitcher Whitney Leon (Dandridge, Tenn.) held Presbyterian to just three runs through the game's first five innings before allowing a pair of runs in the sixth.

ETSU will travel to Nashville, Tenn., this weekend to take on fourth-place Lipscomb in a three-game series beginning Saturday, April 5.

FOLLOW THE BUCS

• Receive live game updates and behind-the-scenes access of ETSU Softball by following @ETSUSoftball on Twitter or BucSoftball on Facebook.
• ETSU fans wanting to receive Buccaneer news, score updates, in-game promotions and much more sent to their mobile device can do so by signing up for “Buc Updates.” Click here to sign up today!
• For schedule and time changes due to weather, please follow the above links to follow the Bucs on Twitter or sign up for Buc Updates. For directions to Betty Basler Field, click here.