JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Feb. 14, 2025) – Opening day for the 2025 ETSU baseball team was twice as nice on Friday as the Bucs swept a doubleheader from Northern Kentucky by scores of 14-1 and 9-2 at Thomas Stadium. It is the seventh time in the last eight seasons that the Bucs have started 2-0.
Game One Recap – The Bucs started the new campaign by handing the ball to the Preseason Co-SoCon Pitcher of the Year
Michael Harpster and the sophomore did not disappoint. Harpster tossed five no-hit, shutout innings against the Norse with seven strikeouts. The only two baserunners against Harpster were a pair of batters that were hit by pitches.
Aided by Harpster's stellar start, the Buccaneer offense was able to ease into the game. Once ETSU's bats got going, they put up four runs in the third, six in the sixth and four in the eighth on 17 hits to run away with the season opener, 14-1.
Derek McCarley came in to relieve Harpster in the sixth inning and turned in a good outing as well. McCarley allowed one run on two hits in four innings of work with three strikeouts. For his efforts, he collected his first save of 2025 and his fifth as a Buc.
With 17 hits, there were plenty of offensive leaders for ETSU in game one. Newcomers
Grant Gallagher and
Axel Melendez both hit their first home runs in an ETSU uniform. All nine Bucs that started the game reached base at least once and six had multi-hit performances.
Cody Miller drove in three runs and scored three more, while
Joey Little and Melendez drove in three runs a piece as well.
Blake Jacklin picked up the lone three-hit outing for the Bucs in game one.
Game Two Recap – Unlike in game one, the Buccaneer offense was much more spread out. The Bucs scored two runs in four different frames and added a single run in the opening inning. ETSU also flexed some power in the eventual 9-2 win in game two as they slugged four home runs.
Sophomore
Jace Hyde followed Harpster's lead and turned in a stellar outing to start his season. Hyde pitched the first 4.2 innings, struck out three while working out a pair of hits and did not allow a run.
Andrew Ronne and Andrew Cotton limited the Norse offense to two runs on four hits over the final 4.1 to help seal the win.
The four long balls for ETSU came from
Jamie Palmese, Miller,
Eli Evans and
JD Yakubinis. For Evans, it was his first collegiate home run, while the other three players get their first in 2025 after combining for six between them in 2024.
Palmese and Evans both had two hits, while Jackson State transfer
Lenny Montesano finished a home run shy of the cycle in his Buccaneer debut.
Next Up – ETSU will close out its series with Northern Kentucky on Saturday. First pitch is set for 4 p.m. from Thomas Stadium.
For more information on Buccaneer baseball, visit ETSUBucs.com and click on the baseball tab.
