ETSU to play doubleheader on Saturday, single game Sunday at Samford Softball Field

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (April 7, 2017) – After opening Southern Conference play with a series win over Mercer last weekend, the ETSU softball team looks to build upon its momentum as the Buccaneers take on defending regular season and tournament champion Samford this weekend in Birmingham. 

The Bucs and Bulldogs will play a doubleheader on Saturday, while wrapping up the series on Sunday. The start times for both days are set for 2 p.m. (Eastern). 

SERIES SCHEDULE

GAME ONE (Saturday, April 8) – ETSU at Samford, 2 p.m. – Live Stats / Live Video

GAME TWO (Saturday, April 8) – ETSU at Samford, 4 p.m. – Live Stats / Live Video

GAME THREE (Sunday, April 9) – ETSU at Samford, 2 p.m. – Live Stats / Live Video 

ABOUT THE BUCS

The Bucs – who have won eight of their last 11 – took two of three from Mercer last weekend at Betty Basler Field and enter this weekend’s road series at 16-17 overall, 2-1 in SoCon. 

ETSU’s series win over Mercer marked the first time since 2004 that the Bucs have won a series to open conference play. 

As a team, the Bucs rank third nationally in doubles per game (1.85), while Tiffany Laughren (Erwin, Tenn.) and Danielle Knoetze (San Diego, Calif.) rank 19^th in doubles (12) … Freshman Nikki Grupp (Jacksonville, Fla.) is the 17^th toughest player to strikeout (1:41.0) in the country. 

Senior Mykeah Johnson (Cohutta, Ga.) carries a seven-game hit streak into this weekend’s series, while Grupp has reached base safely in her last eight contests … Laughren and Knoetze have reached base in their last seven games … Johnson is hitting .348 (8-for-23) with two doubles, one home run, four walks, two RBI and four runs during her seven-game hit streak.

Twenty-one of ETSU’s 33 games this season have been decided by two runs or less with the Bucs going 9-12 in those contests … ETSU is 7-5 in one-run games and 2-7 in two-run games this season … After dropping five of their first seven one-run decisions, the Bucs have won their last five.

In ETSU’s 16 wins, the Bucs are hitting .331 (138-for-417) with 30 doubles, five triples, 11 home runs, 45 walks, while also out-scoring their opposition, 84-33 (+51) … The Bucs’ pitching staff has held the opposition to a .208 (82-for-394) batting average, along with posting a 1.46 ERA (23 ER/110.0 IP) and issuing just six home runs in their wins. 

Madison Ogle (Maryville, Tenn.) is 7-0 with a 1.51 ERA (11 ER/51.0 IP) in 10 appearances (eight starts) when the Bucs win, while senior righty Lindsey Fadnek (Coalfield, Tenn.) has a 1.15 ERA (3 ER/18.1 IP) in five appearances (three starts) in ETSU’s wins … Grupp is hitting .348 (16-for-46) with seven walks and 12 runs scored in the 16 wins … Fellow freshman Quinn Giesick (Bakersfield, Calif.) has a .423 batting average (11-for-26) in the wins … Laughren is hitting .500 (23-for-46) with 12 runs and 11 RBI in the wins, and Knoetze is hitting .471 (24-for-51) with 16 runs and 18 RBI in the wins. 

Earlier this week, Ogle earned SoCon Pitcher of the Week honors, while Knoetze was tabbed SoCon Player of the Month for March. 

ABOUT SAMFORD

Samford is coming off a series sweep at Chattanooga last weekend and sits 14-24 overall and 4-2 in the SoCon. 

The Bulldogs return six starters and five pitchers from last season’s team that won the SoCon regular season and tournament championships. 

Offensively, Samford is led by junior outfielder Shelby Maze and senior catcher Abby Sweeney … Maze leads the SoCon in batting average (.442) and hits (61), while ranking second in on-base percentage (.465) and runs (30) … Sweeney ranks second in the conference in RBI (30), is tied for third in home runs (6) and is tied for sixth in walks (16). 

In the circle, Grey Adams and Jessica Stone have combined for 12 of the Bulldogs’ 14 wins … Adams in 6-9 with a 3.20 ERA (50 ER/109.1 IP) with 74 strikeouts, while Stone – a preseason all-conference selection – is 6-4 with a 3.37 ERA (34 ER/70.2 IP) … Adams ranks third in the SoCon in opposing batting average (.230), fourth in ERA, innings and strikeouts … Stone ranks fourth in fewest walks allowed (21), sixth in ERA, and ninth in opposing batting average (.282). 

As a team, Samford ranks second in the SoCon in hits (282), while being tied for third with ETSU in runs scored (150).

The Bulldogs have only played eight games at home with Samford going 2-6 in those contests … Sixteen of the Bulldogs’ 38 games have been decided by one run (5-11 in those games). 

SERIES HISTORY

Samford leads the all-time series, 6-1 … ETSU’s lone win was a 2-1 victory last season in Johnson City. 

In six career games (five starts) against Samford, Cassi Pickett (Chattanooga, Tenn.) is hitting .429 (6-for-14) with two doubles, four walks, one run and one RBI … Danielle Knoetze is 4-for-12 and Tiffany Laughren is 2-for-6 with an RBI against the Bulldogs … Lindsey Fadnek earned the win last season as she allowed one run on three hits with seven strikeouts in the complete game effort.

The Bucs are 0-3 all-time against Samford in Birmingham, while three of the seven games have been decided by two runs or less. 

COVERAGE

Live stats and live video will be available for all three games this weekend … Please click the links above to access live stats or visit SamfordSports.com … Live video will be provided free of charge via the SoCon Digital Network. 

Live twitter updates will also be offered by following @ETSUSoftball. 

For more information on Buccaneer softball, visit ETSUBucs.com and click on the softball page.