JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Feb. 13, 2016) – The ETSU softball team will open its 2016 season Sunday when it travels to Kennesaw, Ga. to compete in the Kickoff Classic. The Bucs, who were 15-33 overall last season, will take on Murray State at 1:30 p.m. and wrap up the day facing Kennesaw State at 4 p.m.

The Bucs have 19 players with collegiate softball playing experience on their roster coming into the season. 11 of those 19 players saw time in over half of the team’s games (24 or more) in 2015. The roster consists of five seniors, eight juniors, six sophomores and five freshman.

ETSU’s offense will have plenty of fire power returning to the batter’s box in 2016. The team leader in home runs (Kelsey Smith - 12), RBI (Kelsey Smith – 41), batting average (Jennine Duncan - .330) and on-base percentage (Cassi Pickett - .413) are all back for this season.

In the circle, the Buccaneers return two pitchers that logged over 68 innings for them in 2015: Taylor Carter (Brazil, Ind.) and Madison Ogle (Maryville, Tenn.). The duo of Carter and Ogle combined for nine of the team’s 15 victories last season.

Bullets on the Bucs

• ETSU is 5-10 all-time in its season openers with its last win coming in 2008 when it shutout Furman 7-0
• Sunday’s game between ETSU and Murray State will be the first ever meeting between the two schools. Kennesaw State, who was a former rival of the Bucs in the Atlantic Sun, has won 15 of the 19 all-time matchups between the programs.
• Despite having two years of eligibility remaining, Taylor Carter ranks in the top 10 in several career pitching categories at ETSU. Carter is sixth with 19 wins, eighth with four shutouts and her 243 innings pitched ranks 10^th.
• Although the Bucs finished 15-33 last season, the team hit a collective .268, which is the third highest in program history. The only seasons ETSU hit better were in 2009 (.269) and 2007 (.280).
• With just two more home runs, Kelsey Smith will be tied for eighth on the program’s all-time home run list with 14. Smith, who is one of six sophomores on the squad, smacked 12 home runs in her first season as a Buc.

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