MACON, Ga. (April 14, 2024) – Riley Nayadley had a career day on Sunday to help carry the ETSU softball team to a series-clinching win at Mercer.
 
Nayadley drove in a career-high five runs – including a three-run home run in the top of the fifth – while Sara Muir dazzled in her return to the diamond as ETSU blanked Mercer 5-0 on Sunday afternoon at Sikes Field.
 
Nayadley, who went 2-for-3 with the three-run homer, became the first Buccaneer with a 5-RBI game since Muir accomplished the feat last April 7 in a 7-3 win at Samford. The Buccaneer shortstop gave Muir and the Bucs all the support they needed with an RBI ground out in the top of the first, while her third-inning single brought home Jasmine Sanchez. To put icing on the cake, Nayadley scored Cameron Young and Brylee Mesusan with the blast over the centerfield wall in the fifth.
 
After missing the last 18 games, Muir was stellar in the circle as she tossed six scoreless innings of one-hit ball to earn the win. Muir (4-4) struck out three and walked none as 52 of her 79 pitches logged went for strikes. Gabby Fowler tossed the final inning to close out the game.
 
With the win, ETSU – who secured its first SoCon series win since last May when the Bucs took two of three from Mercer – improved to 9-26 overall and 3-9 in conference play. The five-run victory marked ETSU's largest win margin since defeating Tennessee Tech by eight runs (11-3) last April 18 in Cookeville. The shutout was the first by the Bucs this season and first since blanking Mercer 2-0 to secure the series last May 7 at Betty Basler Field. Mercer, who entered the weekend tied atop the SoCon standings, dropped to 19-21 overall and 8-4 in league play.
 
As a team, ETSU out-hit Mercer, 8-1.
 
The Bucs' top three hitters – Mesusan, Young and Nayadley – combined for six hits, one double, one home run and four runs scored. The trio all posted two-hit games, while Mesusan scored two runs and had two stolen bases, moving her season total to 16. Young registered her team-leading 14th double of the year to move Mesusan over to third in the top of the first, while the Buccaneer speedster came home on Nayadley's RBI ground out to short, marking the third straight game ETSU has scored a first inning run.
 
Emma Dorval posted the lone hit for the Bears on a two-out infield single in the second inning.
 
Overall, Muir retired 18 of the 19 Mercer hitters she faced.
 
Grace Taylor suffered the loss for the Bears as she allowed four runs on seven hits in 4.1 innings. Hannah Pitts, who served up Nayadley's three-run blast, tossed the final 2.2 innings.
 
The Bucs gear up for a midweek non-conference game as ETSU travels to Cookeville for a single game at Tennessee Tech Wednesday night at 6 p.m. ET.
 
For more information about ETSU softball, visit ETSUBucs.com and select softball.