JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (April 7, 2024) – Looking to secure its first Southern Conference series win of the season, the ETSU softball team dropped a 3-0 decision to Western Carolina on Sunday from Betty Basler Field.
Both teams were held scoreless for the first three innings, but the Catamounts broke through with a pair of two-out runs in the top of the fourth to take control. Western Carolina scored its first run when pitcher Tessa Juett worked a bases loaded walk, while Maya McPherson took a 2-2 pitch to left field for an RBI single, but for the second straight inning,
Jasmine Sanchez threw a strike home to get the runner advancing from second out at the plate to end the frame.
The Blue & Gold left eight runners on base, including the bases loaded in the bottom of the fifth when Juett got
Riley Nayadley to pop out to second. In total, ETSU went 2-for-11 with runners on base, 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position and 1-for-8 with two outs. The Catamounts were 6-of-12 with runners on base, 3-of-6 with runners in scoring position and 5-of-9 with two outs. Western Carolina pushed across its final run with a two-out single by McPherson in the sixth.
Emily Musco and
Halle Laramie combined for four of ETSU's five hits as they each had two-hit games.
Coming off her first collegiate win on Tuesday,
Cameron Lauretta got the start and went four innings. Lauretta suffered the loss (1-3) after allowing two runs on seven hits with three walks.
Kendall Thackston tossed the final three innings of relief where she allowed one unearned run on two hits with three strikeouts. Juett, Saturday's game one winner, pitched a five-hit shutout to improve to 9-9 on the season. Juett struck out five and walked three.
With the loss, ETSU dipped to 7-25 overall and 1-8 in SoCon play, while Western Carolina improved to 12-20, 3-6.
The Bucs are back on the diamond Tuesday when ETSU heads to Boone, N.C. for a doubleheader at Appalachian State starting at 4 p.m.
For more information about ETSU softball, visit ETSUBucs.com and select softball.
