JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (April 20, 2024) – Highlighted by a four-run sixth inning, the ETSU softball team rallied for a 7-6 victory over Samford in game one of Saturday's doubleheader at Betty Basler Field. The Bucs were unable to complete the sweep as Samford took game two, 10-2, in five innings, setting up a rubber match on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m.
 
Facing a four-run deficit after three-and-a-half innings, the Blue & Gold struck for three runs in the fourth and completed the comeback with the four-run sixth to secure their first home win over Samford since March 25, 2018.
 
With the split, ETSU moved to 10-28 overall and 4-10 in SoCon play, while Samford is 15-27, 8-6.
 
Prior to Saturday's game, ETSU invited the Indian Trail middle school softball team on the field to celebrate the life of Charlee Blackburn who suddenly passed away in February. The Bucs have been holding free Charlee Clincs each Wednesday night from 6-7 p.m. at Betty Basler Field to honor Charlee.
 
The Bucs pounded out 10 hits in game one with Cameron Young leading the charge with a perfect 3-for-3 effort at the dish. Young, who reached base all four times, drove in a run and scored one, while Riley Nayadley's fielder's choice RBI in the bottom of the sixth plated the eventual game-winning runs. Jasmine Sanchez, who went 2-for-3 with an RBI and run scored, came home as the tying run, while Brylee Mesusan sprinted home following a throwing error by Samford's shortstop to result in the game-winning run.
 
The Bulldogs got on the board by plating an unearned run in the top of the second and went ahead 4-0 with their three-run fourth inning.
 
ETSU's bats heated up in the bottom half of the fourth when Taylor Suchy's single to right-center scored Nayadley and Young, while Sanchez drove in pinch runner Leilani Coleman-Tillman with an RBI single to right, making it a 4-3 score.
 
The Bulldogs got two runs back in the top of the sixth, but ETSU answered with its four-run inning to take game one, 7-6.
 
Kendall Thackston (1-3) earned the win as she tossed the final 3.1 innings in relief. Thackston allowed two runs on four hits, while Whitley Arnott got the start and allowed four runs (three earned) on three hits in 3.2 innings. Arnott struck out four and walked four. Samford's Sara Bond (1-7) took the loss as she was charged with four unearned runs on six hits in three innings out of the bullpen. McKenzie Newcomb got the start and issued three runs on four hits in three innings.
 
Looking to win its second straight SoCon series, ETSU was unable to accomplish the feat on Saturday as Samford defeated the Bucs 10-2 in five innings in the nightcap.
 
With the game knotted at 2-2 through three innings, Samford struck for eight runs in the top of the fourth to take control and cap off the run-rule victory.
 
Brylee Mesusan accounted for two of ETSU's four hits and scored both runs. Mesusan also stole two bases, marking her 18th and 19th bags of the year.
 
Sara Muir suffered the loss (4-5) as she was charged with eight runs (five earned) on 10 hits in three innings, while Samford's Jordyn Partain (8-13) tossed a complete game to earn the win. Partain allowed the two runs on four hits with three strikeouts in five innings.  
 
For more information on Buccaneer softball, visit ETSUBucs.com and click on the softball page.