Saturday, March 04, 2006

MARIETTA, Ga. (March 4, 2006) - The ETSU softball team finished play at the Georgia Tech Buzz Classic on Saturday, falling to Marshall, 6-4, and Connecticut, 5-1.  After going 1-3 on the weekend, the Lady Bucs failed to qualify for bracket play, which commences on Sunday morning.  ETSU now stands at 3-12 on the season.

Marshall scored three runs in the top of the second, followed by single runs in the third, fifth and sixth to improve to 8-9 on the year.  The Thundering Herd rocked the ETSU pitching staff for a total of four homeruns in the fray, slamming 10 hits on the game.  Amanda Williams, Jessica Williams and Deanna Tourville each recorded two hits for the Herd.

ETSU scored its first run in the bottom of the second with a leadoff homer by Amanda Haverman (Kirkwood, Mo.), who went 3-for-4 in the contest, including three RBI.  Haverman was hot all weekend, batting .538 in four games, with seven hits, eight RBI, and a trio of long balls.

The Lady Bucs managed eight hits against Marshall, with Briana Knight (Brier, Wash.) adding a pair of base knocks, as well as an RBI.

Mary Catherine Vercoe (Signal Mountain, Tenn.) was tagged with her sixth loss of the season in 6.0 innings of work.  Vercoe gave up eight hits and four earned runs, while walking three and striking out two.  Marshall's Amanda Luers picked up her first win, giving up just three hits in 3.2 innings in the circle.

ETSU continued to struggle against the Huskies (2-2), mustering only three hits in the game, while committing three errors.  Brittany Lehrschall (Leland, N.C.) threw a strong game on the mound, giving up just five UConn hits in 6.0 innings, striking out two and walking three.  Lehrschall falls to 2-3 in the loss.    

Haverman once again put one over the fence for the Lady Bucs' only run, while Jessica Lonsinger (Dale City, Va.) and Stephanie Gaynord (Manassas, Va.) accounted for the other two ETSU hits.

UConn hurler Krista Michalczyk upped her record to 1-1, throwing all seven innings and striking out four Lady Bucs.

The Lady Bucs return home for double dip against Radford on Wednesday, March 8.  Game one is set for 1 p.m., at Metro-Kiwanis Park.