JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Feb. 26, 2024) – After playing its first 10 games away from Johnson City, the ETSU softball team is set for its home opener as the Buccaneers play host to Appalachian State on Tuesday. First pitch of the doubleheader is set for 4 p.m. at Betty Basler Field.  
 
GAMEDAY INFO
Date: Tuesday, Feb. 27
Time: 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Location: Betty Basler Field
Media Links: Game One Live Stats | Game Two Live Stats

• Free admission to all ETSU home softball games

ABOUT THE BUCS

• ETSU sits 2-8 through its first 10 games of the season
• The Bucs defeated Kennesaw State twice at the KSU Tournament, which was held Feb. 16-18 in Georgia
• Sara Muir was tabbed SoCon Player of the Week following the KSU Tournament where the Buccaneer slugger hit .556 (10-18) with two doubles, two home runs, five runs and six RBI, while also earning both wins in the circle for the Blue & Gold
• ETSU third baseman Cameron Young leads the team with a .500 batting average (17-34) … Six of Young's 17 hits have gone for doubles, while she also has six walks, eight RBI and 10 runs scored
• In total, five Bucs are hitting over .350 on the season … Joining Young and Muir (.406) are Taylor Suchy (.391), Brylee Mesusan (.368) and Riley Nayadley (.357)
• Young (second), Muir (fifth) and Suchy (eighth) all rank in the top 10 among SoCon leaders in batting average … Young (.676) and Muir (.656) rank eighth and ninth in slugging percentage, while Young is third in on-base percentage (.575) and fifth in OPS (1.251) … Muir is eighth in OPS (1.088)
• Young's six doubles are tied for the SoCon lead, while her 17 hits are tied for third
• Mesusan's six stolen bases are tied for the SoCon lead, while her three steals against Kennesaw State on Feb. 16 tied the single-game program record

 
ABOUT APPALACHIAN STATE

• The Mountaineers are 7-5 through their first 12 games of the season
• Appalachian State won three of four at last weekend's Wolfpack Classic
• Senior Kayt Houston was named preseason All-Sun Belt
• Houston is tied for the team lead with a .500 batting average (21-42), while she has a team-best nine doubles, five home runs, 17 RBI and 15 runs scored
• Peyton Darnell is also hitting .500 (18-36) with one double, four home runs and 15 RBI
• As a team, the Mountaineers are hitting .339 and they are outscoring their opponents 73-45
• In the circle, Kaylie Northrop is 4-0 with a 2.36 ERA (10 ER/29.2 IP) in eight appearances (four starts) 

SERIES HISTORY

• ETSU and Appalachian State have met 48 times prior with the all-time series being tied at 24-24
• The Bucs have lost nine straight to the Mountaineers with ETSU's last win coming on March 9, 2021 when the Blue & Gold won, 2-0 in Johnson City
• ETSU is 12-9 all-time against Appalachian State at home
• The Bucs hosted Appalachian State in their home opener at year ago with the Mountaineers winning 5-4 back on Feb. 28

UP NEXT
ETSU continues its 10-game home stand this weekend when the Bucs host Robert Morris in a four-game series. The teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday and Sunday with the start times for each being set for 12 p.m.
 
For more information about ETSU softball, visit ETSUBucs.com and select softball.