KENNESAW, Ga. (Feb. 15, 2024) – The ETSU softball team gears up for its second and final tournament of the non-conference season as the Buccaneers head to Georgia for the Kennesaw State Tournament. The Bucs will take on Pitt, Ole Miss and Kennesaw State this weekend at Bailey Park in Kennesaw, Ga. 
 
BUCCANEER WEEKEND SCHEDULE 
Friday, Feb. 16 – ETSU vs. Pittsburgh, 1:30 p.m. | Live Stats
Friday, Feb. 16 – ETSU at Kennesaw State, 6:30 p.m. | Live Stats | Live Video
Saturday, Feb. 17 – ETSU vs. Ole Miss, 11 a.m. | Live Stats
Saturday, Feb. 17 – ETSU vs. Pittsburgh, 1:30 p.m. | Live Stats
Sunday, Feb. 18 – ETSU at Kennesaw State, 1 p.m. | Live Stats | Live Video
 
ABOUT THE BUCS 

• ETSU played five games last weekend at the Runnin' Bulldog Classic, hosted by Gardner-Webb … The Bucs took on Youngstown State, Gardner-Webb and Delaware last weekend in the Tar Heel State
• The Bucs are still searching for their first win after dropping all five games last weekend 
• Newcomer and Tennessee transfer Brylee Mesusan led the Bucs last weekend as she hit .500 (9-18) with one double and seven runs scored 
• Preseason all-SoCon selection Cameron Young drove in a team-best four runs last weekend at the Runnin' Bulldogs Classic
• Sara Muir and Taylor Suchy each pitched 10 innings in the circle for the Blue & Gold 

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
About Pittsburgh

• Pittsburgh went 2-2 last weekend at the LSU Invitational 
• The Panthers' two wins came against Memphis, while Pitt dropped a pair to host and nationally ranked LSU
• Kyra Pittman and Olivia Stefanoni each earned wins last weekend in the circle for the Panthers, while Danni Farris leads the team with a 1.24 ERA (1 ER/5.2 IP)
• At the plate, Desirae Martinez reached base five times last weekend as she went 3-for-9, along with walking once and being hit by a pitch 
• ETSU and Pitt have played five times with the Panthers leading the all-time series, 3-2 … The last meeting came in 2011 when Pitt won 12-0 in Johnson City … ETSU won 1-0 over the Panthers on March 10, 2006 and 5-3 on March 13, 2004 – both games being played in Rock Hill, S.C. 

About Kennesaw State

• Kennesaw State sits 2-3 on the young season 
• The Owls fell 14-0 to No. 2 Tennessee on Wednesday night in Kennesaw 
• Kennesaw State opened the season at the Texas State Tournament where the Owls defeated UTSA, 3-1 and picked up a 1-0 win over Northwestern State 
• The Owls were picked to finish fifth in the ASUN Preseason Coaches Poll, while outfielder Stella Henry earned a spot on the preseason all-conference team 
• Henry led the team with a .408 average last season and she's tied for the team lead with four hits this year
• The Owls are holding the opposition to a .216 batting average through five games in 2024 (27-125)
• Kenley Hilleary leads the pitching staff with two wins and 13 strikeouts in 10.1 innings, while Lindsey Kyte has a team-best 1.05 ERA (1 ER/6.2 IP)

About Ole Miss

• Ole Miss rides a four-game win streak in Kennesaw State as the Rebels won their last four games at the Paradise Classic in Honolulu, Hawaii 
• After opening the season with a 7-4 setback to BYU, Ole Miss defeated Nevada, Kansas City and Hawaii (twice)
• Through five games this season, the Rebels are outscoring their opponents, 36-11, and out-hitting them, .379 to .252
• Thirteen of Ole Miss's 53 hits went for extra-bases last weekend – six doubles, one triple and six home runs
• Jamie Mackay hit .700 (7-10) with one home run, three RBI, three runs scored, three walks and one hit-by-pitch last weekend in Hawaii 
• Makenna Kliethermes went 2-0 with a 1.20 ERA (2 ER/11.2) with 14 strikeouts in the circle
• Ole Miss has appeared in the last seven NCAA Regionals, while advancing to Super Regionals in 2017 and 2019
• This weekend marks the first-ever meeting between ETSU and Ole Miss 

UP NEXT
ETSU gears up for its home opener as the Bucs host Appalachian State in a doubleheader on Tuesday, Feb. 27 starting at 4 p.m.
 
For more information about ETSU softball, visit ETSUBucs.com and select softball.