JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. - East Tennessee State softball opened the home portion of the 2026 campaign on Friday afternoon at Betty Basler Field with a loss to Bowling Green and a dominate shutout over Tennessee State.

GAME 1 NOTABLES (L vs. BGSU - 2-5)

• Senior catcher Leinani Lutu was the defensive stronghold for the Bucs in the home opener, tallying six putouts with two assists for the game-high.
• Taylor Suchy, the senior pitcher, collected a career-high four strikeouts through five innings on the mound.  On the defensive end, Suchy boasted two doubles, recording two doubles in a game for just the second time in her career.   
• Seniors Abigail Taylor (OF) and Riley Martens (INF) were hefty offensive and defensive contributors with each recording four putouts and Martens tacking on an assist.  The four putouts were a season-high for Taylor.  Martens went 3-3 at the plate with one double and one run while Taylor went 1-3 with one run scored.  
• Hailey Porter, the freshman shortstop, collected career-highs in putouts with two and assists with three, also securing the team-high in assists through the contest.
• Sophomore pitcher Catlin Pennington subbed in for an innings of action to record two strikeouts.
• The team totaled 28 at-bats, two runs, seven hits, two RBI, 21 putouts with seven assists and six strikeouts in the first meeting of the weekend against the Falcons.  

GAME 2 NOTABLES (W vs. Tennessee State - 17-0)

• The 17 runs totaled by the Bucs is the most since 2002 where the team recorded 21 in a win over NC A&T.  The 17 runs is a Betty Basler Field facility record and the second best all-time performance in program history.  ETSU has not blanked an opponent since defeating Wofford in 2025 and has recorded just four total shutouts through the last three seasons.  The 5-1 start to season remains the best in program history.
• The opening frame was loaded with action as the Bucs accumulated 10 runs off of nine hits, the second most effective inning in program history, following the 2002 victory.  The 10 runs were collected from seven members of the squad posting a hit and eight different individuals crossing the plate.
• 18 Buccaneers recorded a plate appearance, with 14 of 18 registering a hit and 13 of 18 notching runs, with four individuals recording multiple runs.
• Senior pitcher Marissa Barnes tallied her third win of the season, limiting the Tigers to just one hit through three innings on the rubber with a season-high four strikeouts.  Freshman pitcher Layla Sodini popped in for an inning to action to register her first career strikeout and hold TSU scoreless through the final frame.  
• Sarah Fonseca, the junior catcher, tallied the game-high of four putouts and tallied her first career hit in the outing with a line drive to collect her first career RBI.
• Senior infielder Riley Martens blasted her first home run as a Buccaneer, and the 18th of her career, driving in three runs with a dead-center rocket shot.  Martens registered two putouts on the defensive end.
• Taylor Suchy, the senior outfielder, was a top impact player, going 2-2 at the plate with three RBI and two runs scored for career-highs in the two statistics.  
• Multiple individuals subbed in a pinch hitters and recorded hits and RBIs - sophomore utility Addison Merritt (1 RBI, 1 R), sophomore infielder Payton Moore (2 RBI, 1 R), sophomore infielder Natalie Green (1 R), sophomore pitcher Catlin Pennington (1 R) and sophomore catcher Addison Toney (1 R).
• Abigail Taylor, the senior outfielder, laid out two flawless bunts to reach the bags, going 3-3 in total in the outing, crossing the plate twice as the most effective hitter for the squad in the win.  She collected the lone stolen base for the Bucs in the outing alongside two putouts in the field.
• The team totaled 31 at-bats, 17 runs, 19 hits, 15 RBI, 15 putouts with three assists and six strikeouts in the first shutout victory for the squad in the 2026 season.

UP NEXT
The Bucs return to action on Saturday, February 21 at 1 and 3 p.m. for the second games against BGSU and Tennessee State.