Bucs return to Betty Basler Field for first time in nearly a month

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (April 19, 2016) – After nearly month of road games combined with cancellations and postponements, the ETSU softball team will return to Betty Basler Field Wednesday for a non-conference doubleheader against Gardner-Webb. Wednesday’s twin bill is scheduled to get underway at 2 p.m.  

Bullets on the Bucs

• The Bucs won their second consecutive SoCon series over the weekend at Mercer. The Bucs split a pair of games Saturday – won 7-2 and lost 8-0 – but won the series finale by score of 11-7 Sunday.
• Following the series win at Mercer, the Bucs swept the conference’s weekly awards. Senior Bethany Cowart (Ringgold, Ga.) won the league’s Player of the Week honor after hitting .556 with two home runs and five RBI, while Lindsey Fadnek (Coalfield, Tenn.) took home Pitcher of the Week accolades after winning both games in the circle for the Bucs.
• Kelsey Smith (Tucson, Ariz.) hit two home runs to go along with four RBI in Saturday’s 7-2 win at Mercer. It was Smith’s third career multi-home run game and the first by a Buccaneer this season. Additionally, Smith, who has 18 career home runs, moved into a tie for fifth place on ETSU’s all-time home run list with former Buc Danielle Spetar.

Bucs by the numbers

.151 – In addition to her work with the bat, Smith has also been a key part of ETSU’s pitching staff. The Tucson, Ariz. native has held non-conference opponents to a batting average of .151 in 25 innings pitched.

11 – With 36 home runs in 28 games played this spring, the Bucs currently rank 11^th in the nation in home runs per game (1.29). 10 different Bucs have blasted home runs this season and six have three or more long balls.   

3.65 – ETSU has a team ERA of 3.65 this spring. If the Bucs keep up the current pace it would be their lowest team ERA since 2009 when they set the program record in the category with a 2.23 ERA.  

Scouting the Opponents

Gardner-Webb: The Runnin’ Bulldogs will look to snap a three-game losing skid when they come to Johnson City Wednesday. GWU comes into the matchup with a record of 18-24 overall and 4-11 in the Big South.

First baseman Amanda Gomes has been the most consistent hitter for GWU as she leads the team in batting average (.336), home runs (6) and RBI (30).

Gardner-Webb has three pitchers that have appeared in 14 or more games in 2016. Mackenzie Thompson is one of those pitchers and she leads the staff in wins (9), ERA (3.48), strikeouts (65) and innings pitched (108.2).

Series Histories vs. Opponent

ETSU and Gardner-Webb have met a total of 18 times with the Bucs holding the edge in the series, 10-8. The Bucs swept the two meetings last season in Boiling Springs, N.C. by scores of 9-8 and 8-5. Additionally, the Bucs are 4-2 against the Runnin’ Bulldogs in Johnson City.

Following options for both doubleheaders

Wednesday’s doubleheader will have live stats available and the links can be found on the Bucs’ schedule page. Fans can also follow @ETSUSoftball on Twitter for in-game updates.

FOLLOW THE BUCS

• Receive live game updates and behind-the-scenes access of ETSU Softball by following @ETSUSoftball on Twitter or ETSU Softball on Facebook
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