Wednesday, March 05, 2003

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (March 5, 2003) - East Tennessee State got a strong performance from its pitching staff to shutout Mars Hill in both games of a doubleheader Wednesday afternoon from Metro Kiwanis Park in Johnson City, Tenn. In game one Buccaneer sophomore Danielle Spetar (Knoxville, Tenn.) singled to right center field to score Tiffany McVay (Soddy Daisy, Tenn.) in the bottom of the first inning. Spetar's RBI would prove to be the game winner as the Buccaneers went on to win 1-0. ETSU pitcher Jolene Holthaus (Sidney, Ohio) gave up only three hits in five innings to pick up the win for the Buccaneers. Jennifer Fraser (Chattanooga, Tenn.) picked up the save going two innings and giving up one hit. Mars Hill's Lindsay Hart is charged with the loss going six innings and giving up six hits. In game two the Buccaneer bats came alive to grab a six inning 8-0 victory, capped off by a Lindsey Lane (Erwin, Tenn.) home run. ETSU recorded 15 hits in the game, while Fraser gave up only four hits in five innings to shut out the Lions. Mars Hill's Lyn Loomis was charged with the loss in game two, going 4.2 innings and giving up 14 hits. "Overall I was very pleased with our pitching staff," first year Buccaneer head coach Amy Fuller said. Lane went 3-for-4 on the day, with a triple to go along win the home run, driving in two runs with three RBIs. Freshman Janine Sprague (Hillsborough, N.C.) went 3-for-4, while Rhea Holler (Peoria, Ariz), Sheryl Clark (Brandenton, Fla.) and Miranda Byerly (Chandler, N.C.) went 2-for-3. Holler drove in two runs to go along with a double and one RBI. "We played a much better second game," said Fuller. "Everyone hit well in the second game, we started hitting line drives and ground balls." "Rhea was a spark plug for us in the second game and Lindsey's home run in the sixth was spectacular," added Fuller. Win the win ETSU moves to 4-5 on the year, Mars Hill falls to 4-9. The Buccaneers return to action on Friday, March 8 as they travel to Western Kentucky for the Big Red Blast Tournament.