JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (March 6, 2025) – East Tennessee State University softball notched the first win of the Buccaneer Softball Classic with a frigid 5-3 win over Mercyhurst.

Junior Marissa Barnes earned her first win in the Blue & Gold, striking out six in five innings of work. Freshman Eden Muncy didn't allow a hit over the final two innings, tallying three strikeouts.

Senior infielder Cameron Young went 3-for-4 at the plate with two RBI, and scored the go-ahead run. Sophomore infielder Makayla Veglia added a pair of RBI for the Bucs. 

Veglia opened the scoring by driving a ball into the left center gap against the wind that rolled to the fence, scoring Young and giving ETSU a 1-0 lead. Barnes quickly got back to work, retiring seven straight hitters to start the game. She worked out of a two-on, one out jam by inducing back-to-back lineouts after a single and hit by pitch.

In the top of the fourth, the Lakers notched their only runs of the game after two Buccaneer errors put runners on before a three-run shot gave Mercyhurst a 3-1 lead.

ETSU responded in the bottom of the fifth. A walk from junior catcher Leinani Lutu and fielder's choice put two on for Young, who sent a frozen rope that touched fair just inside of the left field line for a long single that scored Lutu. A sacrifice bunt moved Young and sophomore infielder Tiare Rieger into scoring position before junior outfielder Taylor Suchy delivered a single that snuck past a diving third baseman with two outs to tie the game.

Veglia gave ETSU the 4-3 lead in the next at-bat, driving the ball back up the middle to score Young. Young then added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth, driving in Lutu.

Muncy closed out the game in the top of the seventh, with a groundout to second following two strikeouts.

Next, ETSU continues the Buccaneer Softball Classic at 3 p.m. on Friday, March 7, against Mercyhurst.

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