Nayadley hits first collegiate home run 

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Feb 10, 2023) – Riley Nayadley (Ooltewah, Tenn.) and Sara Muir (Sequatchie, Tenn.) both belted first-inning home runs, but it wasn’t enough to carry ETSU softball to a season-opening win over Campbell on Friday morning at the Charlotte Invitational, held at Sue M. Daughtridge Stadium. Despite taking the early 3-0 lead, Campbell scored eight of the final nine runs to defeat the Bucs, 8-4.

RECORDS

ETSU (0-1)

Campbell (1-0)

NOTABLES

• Nayadley hit her first collegiate home run, finishing with three hits in four at-bats.
• Muir went 3-for-4, bringing in two runs on her two-run shot in the first inning.
• Five different Bucs recorded eight hits in total; however, ETSU left eight runners on base.
• Campbell, two-time defending Big South Conference champion, had three players post multi-hit games, including Kayla Thomas leading the way with a three-hit game

ETSU could not have asked for a better start to the season. In the first few pitches of the season, the Bucs saw Muir blast a two-run shot over the left field wall – scoring Kemiah Michel (Gallatin, Tenn.) – who stood on second base after stealing first. Nayadley then matched the early fireworks the next at-bat, as she hit her first collegiate homer to give the Bucs a 3-0 lead after the first.

After a scoreless second and third inning, the Bucs added their fourth and final run of the game in the top of the fourth as Jasmine Sanchez (Buford, Ga.) plated Kasidy Dunn (Friendsville, Tenn.) from third on a RBI ground out to short.  

In the bottom of the fourth, Campbell answered back with a grand slam by Aliyah Swiney to knot the game at four apiece. Holding the Bucs scoreless in the fifth and sixth innings, Campbell added the go-ahead runs in the bottom of the sixth, giving the Fighting Camels the eventual 8-4 win.

PITHCHERS OF RECORD

Campbell: Isabella Smith (1-0) – win

ETSU: Allison Farr (0-1) – loss

UP NEXT

The Bucs will play games two and three of the Charlotte Invitational against Miami at 10 a.m. (Ohio) and Charlotte following right after.

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