Fox extends hit streak to 11 games as Bucs split non-conference doubleheader

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (March 15, 2015) - A six-run first inning highlighted by a Bethany Cowart (Ringgold, Ga.) grand slam propelled ETSU to a commanding, 14-4 victory in Game One of Sunday's doubleheader versus Eastern Michigan at Betty Basler Field in Johnson City. The Buccaneers were edged in extra innings in Game Two, falling, 7-4.

ETSU manufactured six runs on four hits in the opening inning of Game One, with Cowart and Latosha Rectenwald (Whitesburg, Tenn.) hitting back-to-back home runs, accounting for five runs. Senior Alex Everett (Soddy Daisy, Tenn.) plated the Buccaneers' (10-10) sixth run of the frame by drawing a walk to score Kelsey Smith (Tucson, Ariz.).

Cassi Pickett (Chattanooga, Tenn.), Nicole Fox (Peachtree City, Ga.), and Everett each scored runs in the frame, helping ETSU to a 6-0 lead after just one inning of play.

ETSU's offensive success carried into the second inning where the Bucs scored twice more thanks to a sacrifice fly by Smith and an RBI single by Kelsey Chernak (Ooltewah, Tenn.), scoring Pickett and Cowart, respectively.

The Buccaneers and Eagles (5-9) traded scoring frames in the fourth and fifth innings, with ETSU plating six runs and Eastern Michigan scoring four runs over the two-inning span. Smith belted a homer in each inning for ETSU, bringing her RBI total for the game to six, matching a career-high set Feb. 28 versus Morehead State.

Smith, a freshman from Tucson, Ariz., leads the Bucs with eight home runs and 25 RBI this season.

ETSU stole four bases in the 14-4, Game One victory, with Fox swiping two, and Brooke Baxter (Jasper, Tenn.) and Pickett each recording one steal. The Bucs, who are a perfect 26-of-26 on stolen base attempts this season, entered the weekend as one of just three teams in NCAA Division I to have recorded 20 or more stolen bases without being caught stealing (Arizona: 32, Tennessee 28).

The storyline of Game Two belonged to Eastern Michigan righthander Trisha Trujillo. The freshman from Whittier, Calif., tossed a perfect game through three-and-one-third innings before walking Jenine Duncan (Jonesborough, Tenn.) in the top of the fourth. The very next batter, Casey Horner (Whitesburg, Tenn.), then drove a double to right center field to extinguish Trujillo's no-hit bid and knot the game at 1-1.

The score remained tied through the next three innings, forcing the game into extra innings.

The Eagles' offense surged for six runs in the top of the eighth, leaving ETSU with a six-run deficit and just three outs to work with.

Smith led off ETSU's final frame with a two-run homer to center field, scoring Rectenwald, who began the inning on second base in compliance with the international tiebreak format.

Fox and Chernak then recorded back-to-back hits, breathing life into ETSU's comeback hopes. With the eighth-inning single, Fox extended her team-best hit streak to 11 games.

With runners on first and third with one out, Horner drove a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Chernak; however, the Bucs' rally would advance no further as Eastern Michigan retired the side to seal the 7-4 win.

Tujillo picked up the complete-game victory for Eastern Michigan, striking out three batters.

For the Bucs, Whitney Leon (Dandridge, Tenn.) tossed seven innings of one-run softball before the Eagles mounted their six-run eighth inning. Leon finished with six strikeouts, increasing her season total to 40.

ETSU will host former Atlantic Sun cohort USC Upstate for a doubleheader Tuesday, March 17, with games beginning at 4:00 and 6:00 p.m.

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