JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Jan. 11, 2024) – With just under a month until the season gets underway, second-year ETSU softball head coach Cheryl Milligan announced on Thursday the Buccaneers' 2024 schedule. 
 
The Bucs, who open the season on Feb. 9, will play 25 of their 51 games at Betty Basler Field. 
 
SEASON OPENER 
ETSU will open the 2024 season in the Runnin' Bulldog Classic, which will be held Feb. 9-11 in Boiling Springs, N.C. The Bucs take on Youngstown State in the opener on Feb. 9, while ending the day with tournament host Gardner-Webb. On Saturday, the Blue & Gold will face Delaware and Youngstown State, while closing out play with Gardner-Webb on Sunday, Feb. 11. 
 
BUCS HEAD DOWN TO GEORGIA 
Following the season-opening tournament in the Tar Heel state, ETSU will travel to Georgia for the Kennesaw State Tournament, held at Baily Park. While in Kennesaw, the Bucs will take on Pitt, Ole Miss and the host Owls the weekend of Feb. 15-17. 
 
HOME GAMES GALORE 
ETSU's home opener is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 27 when the Bucs host Appalachian State in doubleheader at Betty Basler Field. This marks a stretch of 13 straight home games for the Blue & Gold as ETSU brings in Robert Morris (March 2-3), Ball State (March 5), Radford (March 6) and open Southern Conference play with reigning conference champion UNCG March 23-24. 
 
SOCON ROAD OPENER 
After the 13-game home stand, ETSU will hit the road to take on Winthrop in a non-conference doubleheader March 26 before facing Chattanooga in its conference road opener March 29-30. 
 
THE REST OF THE SOCON SLATE 
ETSU's other SoCon games feature home series with Western Carolina (April 6-7), Samford (April 20-21) and Wofford (April 27-28). This marks the inaugural season for Wofford.
 
The Bucs will make conference trips to Mercer (April 13-14) and close out regular season play with Furman (May 4-5). 
 
REMAINING NON-CONFERENCE SCHEDULE 
Following the series with Chattanooga, ETSU will play Gardner-Webb at home in a doubleheader on April 2, while also hosting Tennessee Tech in a single game on April 30. 
 
ETSU's remaining non-conference road games send the Blue & Gold to Boone, N.C. for a doubleheader at Appalachian State (April 9), Cookeville for a solo game with Tennessee Tech (April 17) and to Virginia for a doubleheader with Radford on April 23. 
 
SOCON TOURNAMENT PLAY 
The 2024 SoCon Tournament will be held in Greensboro, N.C. at the UNCG Softball Stadium May 8-11. The winner of the double-elimination tournament will earn the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. 
  
For more information on ETSU softball, visit ETSUBucs.com and click on the softball tab.