The Spartans snap the Bucs’ winning streak at three

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (April 23, 2016) – Despite launching three home runs Saturday, the ETSU softball team dropped a pair of games to UNCG. UNCG topped the Bucs in game one by a score of 11-7 and completed the doubleheader sweep with a 10-1 win in game two. The loss dips the Bucs’ record back to the .500 mark at 16-16 overall and 5-6 in conference play.

Game 1 Recap: UNCG staked starter Alicia Bazonski to a 6-0 lead through two-and-a-half innings, but the Bucs battled back with seven runs of their own. Unfortunately the seven-run outburst by ETSU was not enough as it fell in game one, 11-7.

Sophomores Cassi Pickett (Chattanooga, Tenn.) and Kelsey Smith (Tucson, Ariz.) both hit home runs, while senior Samantha Carpenter (Forest City, N.C.) notched a 2-for-3 day at the plate to pace the Buccaneer offense. The home run by Smith, which was a solo shot in the fourth, put the Tucson, Ariz. native into sole possession of fourth place on ETSU’s all-time home run list with 19 long balls.

Lindsey Fadnek (Coalfield, Tenn.) was saddled with the loss after pitching the first two innings, while allowing six runs on five hits. Fadnek’s record moves to 9-4 with the defeat. Freshman Tiffany Laughren (Erwin, Tenn.) tossed a career-high five innings in relief of Fadnek and did not allow an earned run in the appearance.

Game 2 Recap: The Spartans used a six-run fourth inning to help propel themselves to a 10-1 win over the Bucs in five innings to complete the sweep. UNCG starting pitcher Stephanie Bryden held the Bucs to just two hits in the five innings.

One of those hits got the Bucs on the board as Danielle Knoetze (San Diego, Calif.) connected for her eighth home run of the season. Knoetze’s eight home runs are the most by an ETSU player this season and is tied for the fourth-most in a single season by a Buccaneer in program history.

In the circle, Taylor Carter (Brazil, Ind.) was tagged with the loss moving her record to 1-1 this spring. Carter, who got the start in game two, made her 42^nd start in the circle for the Bucs, which is tied for the eighth-most starts by a pitcher in program history.

Next Up: ETSU will look to win the series finale against UNCG Sunday afternoon. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m. from Betty Basler Field.

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