BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (April 5, 2025) – East Tennessee State University softball was on the wrong side of its first series sweep of the season.
After taking one game each from Western Carolina and Furman, the Bucs dropped their third consecutive SoCon series but didn't pick up a win against the Bulldogs; falling 9-4 and 10-2 (5 inn.) in a Saturday doubleheader.
Riley Nayadley led ETSU with three hits between the two games.
Cameron Young added a pair of hits and four RBI, and
Makayla Veglia chipped in two hits, both in the early afternoon contest.
The Buccaneers got off to a quick start in the first game, with
Leinani Lutu doubling home
Brylee Mesusan for a 1-0 lead in the first inning. A second-inning Bulldogs error allowed Veglia to score from first on a groundout and doubled the lead to 2-0 before the Samford offense got going.
A two-run double knotted the contest at 2-2 before an RBI single gave Samford a one run lead. The Bulldogs added another run in the third, then Young got the first of her four RBI on the day with a two-run single to tie the game at 4. The Bulldogs' bats scored in the fourth, fifth and sixth to put the game away and win 9-4. Both squads combined for six errors in the second game of the series, leading to seven unearned runs.
In the second game, ETSU was only able to muster a two-run double from Young. The Bucs' pitching struggled, allowing 10 runs and 14 hits to Samford in less than five full innings. ETSU dropped to 13-25 (2-7 SoCon) with the losses.
Next, the Bucs will end their nonconference slate on the road at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, April 8, at Gardner-Webb.
For more information on Buccaneer softball, follow @ETSUSoftball on X (Twitter), @etsubucssoftball on Instagram and visit ETSUBucs.com.
