JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (March 13, 2025) – East Tennessee State University softball won its third consecutive game with a 4-1 victory over North Dakota to open the ETSU Invitational on Thursday. 

The Bucs started off quickly, scoring two in the bottom of the first on a bases-loaded walk and hit by pitch. Both pitching staffs threw well over the game, as ETSU collected just three hits in the contest.

Junior Marissa Barnes and sophomore Gabrielle Fowler kept North Dakota's offense quiet throughout. Barnes threw 3.2 innings and struck out five, while Fowler earned her second win of the season after pitching 3.1 innings in relief with three strikeouts.

ETSU stacked two of its three hits in an optimal spot. Senior infielder Riley Nayadley singled before senior infielder Sara Muir hammered her second long bomb of the season just to the side of the scoreboard in right center. The homer put the Bucs up 4-0, a lead they would not relinquish.

North Dakota managed one run in the top of the sixth, but Fowler took care of business in the seventh, securing the 4-1 win for ETSU.

The Bucs moved to 9-13 with the win, have now won three straight and five of six at home. ETSU returns to the diamond at noon on Friday, March 14, for a rematch against the Fighting Hawks.

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