JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (April 6, 2024) – Whitley Arnott tossed a complete game and Cameron Young drove in two runs with a third-inning double to help ETSU softball force a split, as the Bucs defeated Western Carolina 2-1 in game two of Saturday's Southern Conference doubleheader from Betty Basler Field.
 
Arnott (3-4) was stellar as she held the Catamounts to one run on six hits with three strikeouts (zero walks) in the seven innings pitched. The Buccaneer hurler threw 95 pitches (61 strikes) en route to registering her second complete game of the season. With the right-hander dealing in the circle, Young provided the key hit when her third-inning double drove in Gracen Hinson and Jasmine Sanchez, resulting in the all the offense needed for Arnott.
 
In total, ETSU finished with three hits in game two as Young was joined by Sanchez and Brylee Mesusan with the Buccaneer base knocks. Hinson got the third inning rolling when she reached via four-pitch walk to leadoff the frame. From there, Sanchez reached on a bunt single, while the bases were loaded following Mesusan's single to left. Young delivered as she took a 3-2 pitch into left for her team-leading 12th double of the year.
 
Western Carolina plated its run in the fourth when Jeralynn Wells belted a two-out home run to left, but Arnott retired 10 of the final 13 Catamount hitters to secure ETSU's first conference win of the season.
 
Makenzie Martin suffered the loss (0-8) as she allowed two runs on three hits in the complete game effort.
 
Despite taking a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the first inning of game one, the Bucs were outscored 7-1 over the final six innings as Western Carolina took the opener, 8-3. The Catamounts jumped back ahead with a two-run second inning and broke things open with a three-run sixth.
 
Taylor Suchy (0-10) got the starting nod in the circle for the Blue & Gold and she surrendered six runs (four earned) on eight hits in 5.1 innings. Tessa Juett went the distance for the Catamounts as she allowed three runs on six hits with nine strikeouts in seven innings.
 
Mesusan and Young led the Bucs with two hits each and accounted for the three runs scored.
 
With the split, ETSU moved to 7-24 overall and 1-7 in SoCon play, while Western Carolina is now 11-20, 2-6.
 
The rubber match of the series is slated for Sunday at 1 p.m. from Betty Basler Field.
 
For more information about ETSU softball, visit ETSUBucs.com and select softball.