BUIES CREEK, N.C. (Feb. 7, 2025) – East Tennessee State University softball dropped its pair of opening day games on Friday.

The Bucs struggled in the opening inning of the season, allowing nine runs to UMass. The Minutemen nearly batted around twice; using five hits and seven free passes (four walks, three hit by pitch) to build the early lead, before sophomore Gabby Fowler entered with two outs and limited the damage to nine.

Fowler would settle down in the circle, allowing just one hit with four strikeouts and four walks over five innings pitched.

Needing to score in the top of the fifth to avoid an early run-rule, senior infielder and preseason SoCon Player of the Year Cameron Young drove in junior outfielder Brylee Mesusan for ETSU's first run of the season with a sac fly. Senior infielder Sara Muir drove in senior shortstop Riley Nayadley one batter later to cut the deficit to 9-2.

UMass would earn the run-rule one inning later, though, as a two-out error allowed a runner to score from second to end the game at 10-2 after six innings.

In the second game of the doubleheader, the Bucs got off to a much better start. ETSU only allowed one run in the top of the first inning before freshman pitcher Eden Muncy got into a groove, keeping the Bucs in the game.

In the top of the fourth inning, sophomore utility Tiare Rieger doubled in junior outfielder Taylor Suchy to tie the game at one. The pitchers duel continued to the seventh, when Muir got her second RBI of the day to bring Young home and give the Bucs a 2-1 lead.

ETSU wouldn't hold the lead, however, as a RBI triple tied the game in the bottom half of the inning before Muncy stranded the runner at third to send the game to extra innings. Per NCAA rules, a runner is placed at second base at the beginning of every extra inning regular season game. Every runner that started at second base through four extra innings scored. 

ETSU had chances to add an extra run, notably in the ninth inning when the Bucs had the bases loaded with one out, already up one; and in the eleventh inning with runners on the corners and just one out. The Blue & Gold couldn't bring them home, though. In total, ETSU stranded 18 baserunners throughout the 11-inning tilt, including eight in the four extra frames.

Kent State walked off in the bottom half of the 11th after an error allowed a runner to score from second, and won the opening day marathon 7-6.

Muncy (0-1) began her collegiate career with a stellar performance, allowing just two earned runs in 10.2 innings pitched (164 pitches) while striking out five. No run she allowed after the seventh inning was earned. In the batter's box, Young opened the season scorching, going 5-for-7 with a RBI, walk and stolen base. 

For more information on Buccaneer softball, follow @ETSUSoftball on X (Twitter), @etsubucssoftball on Instagram and visit ETSUBucs.com.