JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (March 8, 2015) - The ETSU softball team concluded play in the three-team Holiday Inn Invitational Sunday, edging Tennessee Tech, 5-4, before falling to Radford, 9-0.

The Bucs, who were held to just two runs in Saturday's 3-2 loss to Tennessee Tech, jumped out to an early 4-0 advantage following a four-run second inning highlighted by a two-run homer by Cassi Pickett (Chattanooga, Tenn.) and a two-RBI double by Nicole Fox (Peachtree City, Ga.)

ETSU starting pitcher Taylor Carter (Brazil, Ind.) helped her own cause by belting a leadoff double to start off the bottom of the second inning. The very next batter, Pickett, then drove a home run, her second home run of the season, over the left field fence to give the Bucs a 2-0 lead.

Following a Danielle Knoetze (San Diego, Calif.) single and a Bethany Cowart (Ringgold, Ga.) walk, Fox cleared the bases with a double down the left field line.

During the Holiday Inn Invitational, in which the Bucs posted a 2-2 record, Fox went a combined 6-of-14 with two RBI and three stolen bases.

The Golden Eagles responded in the top of the third, manufacturing four runs on five hits to tie the game at 4-4.

ETSU's eventual game-winning run came in the fourth inning when Latosha Rectenwald (Whitesburg, Tenn.) drew a two-out walk before being driven home by a Cowart single through the right side.

Nine of ETSU's ten batters versus Tennessee Tech recorded hits.

On the mound for the Bucs, Carter earned her third consecutive victory, allowing four earned runs in seven innings of work.

In the Bucs' second and final game of the day, Radford's Kelsey Weddle pitched a complete-game shutout, striking out three batters en route to helping the Highlanders (4-11) to a 9-0 victory in five innings.

Radford took control early on, scoring three times in the first inning due largely to back-to-back home runs by Whitney Davis and Becky Mantel. The Highlanders pushed their lead to 9-0 with a six-run third inning highlighted by a Summer Robinson grand slam.

ETSU will continue non-conference play Wednesday, March 11 as the Bucs visit Presbyterian College for a double-header with games beginning at 2:00 and 4:00 p.m. 

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