Sunday, March 09, 2008

CLEARWATER, Fla. (Mar. 9, 2008) - Sophomore hurler Marissa Hardy (Rocklin, Calif.) tossed a two-hit shutout and ETSU plated four runs in the top of the fifth en route to a 5-0 victory over Coastal Carolina; however, the Lady Bucs were blanked 2-0 by UIC in the final game of the Under Armour Invitational on Sunday from the Eddie C. Moore Sports Complex.

In game one, ETSU took advantage of a fielding error by Coastal in the second and went up 1-0 as Amanda Haverman's (Kirkwood, Mo.) RBI ground out scored Katie Henderson (Jackson, Tenn.) from third. Henderson, who reached on an error to begin the inning, moved to second on a single by Caitlin Zyskowski (Grand Rapids, Mich.) and advanced to third on a wild pitch, placing her scorning position.

Hardy was in control of the entire game as she sent down the first nine Chanticleer hitters she faced; including 12 of the first 13. Then, the Lady Bucs broke the game open with their four-run fifth inning.

The Softball Bucs plated four runs on three hits as back-to-back doubles by Kate Powell (Johnson City) and Katy Jett (Talbott, Tenn.) began the offensive explosion. After Jessie Hackworth (Clinton, Tenn.) walked, Henderson stepped to the plate with two outs and runners on the corners. Henderson took full advantage of a Ashley Pedersen pitching mistake as the Jackson, Tenn. native sent one flying over the left field wall, giving the Lady Bucs a comfortable 5-0 cushion. Hardy retired nine of the final 10 batters she faced and picked up her first shut out of the season.

ETSU scored its five runs on nine hits and Henderson drove in a career high three runs on the afternoon. Hardy improved to 4-3 on the campaign after going the distance and striking out four. Pedersen suffered her second loss of the year and allowed five runs on six its in 5.0 IP.

The Lady Buccaneers split the pair of games after being hurt by the long ball in game two versus UIC (University of Illinois Chicago).

Freshman Ashley Boyd (Chattanooga, Tenn.) took the loss after surrendering back-to-back solo home runs to the Flames in the fifth. Boyd fell to 2-4 on the season.

With the split ETSU moved to 8-14 as 22 road games are now in the books.

After playing 22 straight road contests the ETSU softball team finally returns home for its home-opener on Wednesday. The Lady Bucs will take on a difficult Tennessee Tech team in a double-header, beginning at 2 p.m. from Metro-Kiwanis Park.

For more information on Lady Buccaneer softball, visit www.ETSUBucs.com.