JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (April 13, 2025) – Senior outfielder
Blake Jacklin hit a walk-off three-run home run as a part of a 5-for-5 day at the plate to go with three runs scored and three stolen bases to help propel the ETSU baseball team to a 11-0 run-rule victory over Western Carolina on Sunday afternoon at Thomas Stadium. Sunday's win boosts ETSU's overall record to 25-9 and improves its conference record to 6-3.
In addition to Jacklin's big day, the Bucs had balance throughout their lineup as eight other Bucs reached base at least once in the win.
Cody Miller matched Jacklin's three runs scored, while
Tristan Curless,
Grant Gallagher,
Will Smoot and
Joey Little all drove in runs. A big part of ETSU's offense on Sunday was on the basepaths as it stole a season-high five bases. Jacklin led the charge with three and Smoot along with
JD Yakubinis also swiped a base. It is ETSU's most stolen bases in a game since March 3, 2023, against Marist when it also stole five.
Not to be outdone, the Buccaneer pitching staff clinched its third shutout of the season.
Michael Harpster got the win after working the first five innings on Sunday allowing three hits, three walks to go with three strikeouts.
Derek McCarley came in to relieve Harpster and closed out the game with two shutout innings. ETSU outscored the Catamounts 23-3 this weekend. The three runs allowed by ETSU's pitching staff is the fewest allowed in a SoCon series by the Bucs since 2023 when they also allowed three runs in a three-game set against The Citadel.
ETSU, which scored in five of the seven innings on Sunday, gained the lead just four batters into the game. Jacklin tried to steal second but got caught in a rundown. During the rundown Miller came in to score the game's first run.
The Bucs added on in the third. A sacrifice fly from Gallagher knocked in Miller for the second time in three innings to make it 2-0 ETSU. A couple batters later Little and Curless tallied back-to-back run-scoring doubles to grow the Buccaneer advantage to five. Smoot tacked on one more run with a RBI single to close out the five-run third inning to make it 6-0 ETSU after three innings.
ETSU saw its lead grow on a Western Carolina wild pitch in the fifth and a Catamount error in the sixth to make the score 8-0. In what proved to be the final inning, Smoot and
Axel Melendez both worked walks leading into Jacklin's big three-run home run to finish off the win and series sweep, 11-0.
It is ETSU's first three-game sweep of the Catamounts in Johnson City since 2019.
ETSU will remain home for its next game on Tuesday. Next up for the Bucs is a matchup against No. 25 Virginia Tech. The Hokies edged the Bucs, 8-6, earlier this season in Blacksburg. First pitch for Tuesday's matchup is set for 5 p.m. from Thomas Stadium.
For more information on Buccaneer baseball, visit ETSUBucs.com and click on the baseball tab.
