CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (May 6, 2015) - Despite loading the bases in three consecutive innings, the ETSU softball team was edged by second-seeded Samford, 3-1, Wednesday in the opening round of the SoCon Softball Championship in Chattanooga, Tenn.

Now in the consolation bracket of the double-elimination tournament, the seventh-seeded Buccaneers (15-32) will take on No. 6 UNC Greensboro Thursday, May 7 at 9:00 a.m., at Frost Stadium in Chattanooga.

Senior righthander Whitney Leon (Dandridge, Tenn.) allowed just three earned runs in six innings of work in the pitcher's circle Wednesday and held the Bulldogs (33-20) scoreless for the contest's opening three innings.

However, Samford's Grey Adams and Mollie Hanson combined to match Leon's quality performance, limiting ETSU to just one run.

The Buccaneers outhit Samford, 8-7, in the game, but left 10 runners on base.

Back-to-back fourth-inning singles by freshmen Malloree Schurr (Montgomery, Texas) and Kelsey Smith (Tucson, Ariz.) set the table for Casey Horner (Whitesburg, Tenn.), who drew a walk to load the bases for the Bucs. Adams then proceeded to tally her fifth and sixth strikeouts of the game to allow Samford to escape the inning unscathed.

In the bottom half of the fourth, the Bulldogs (33-20) plated a pair of runs on a solo homer by Caroline Wilder and an RBI-double by Abbie Miranda to take a 2-0 advantage.

ETSU continued to get on base in the next inning, with Jenine Duncan (Jonesborough, Tenn.), Nicole Fox (Peachtree City, Ga.), and Alex Everett (Soddy Daisy, Tenn.) recording consecutive one-out hits to score the Bucs' only run of the game and force Adams from the game.

Pitching in relief, Hanson struck out two of ETSU's next three batters to end the inning, allowing Samford to take a 2-1 lead into the sixth.

A sixth-inning sacrifice fly by Wilder extended Samford's lead to 3-1.

The Bucs, yet again, loaded the bases in the sixth inning, however, their struggles to manufacture runs continued as Samford escaped the inning unscathed after recording a force out at home plate and a line out to conclude the inning, running ETSU's left-on-base total to 10.

ETSU will now square off versus UNC Greensboro Thursday at 9:00 a.m., in the consolation bracket.

UNCG was defeated by third-seeded Mercer, 9-0, Wednesday afternoon.

The winner of Thursday's contest will advance in the consolation bracket, playing Thursday at 4:30 p.m., while the loser will be eliminated from the tournament.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE

Thursday, May 7 - SoCon Consolation Bracket

9:00 a.m. vs. UNCG | Live stats | SoCon Digital Network

BY THE NUMBERS

For more information on the SoCon tournament, click here.

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