JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. - East Tennessee State softball captured the season sweep of Alabama A&M with a 2-0 day at Betty Basler Field. The Bucs advance to 9-1 on the season, continuing to make history with the best start in program history.
GAME 1 NOTABLES (W, 4-3)
- Riley Croley, the freshman third baseman, went 2-3 at the plate with one run scored and a career-high three runs batted in. Croley drew one walk and saw one putout in the field.
- Abigail Taylor, the senior centerfielder, put on a base running masterclass with an ETSU career-high of three stolen bases. Taylor crossed the plate once herself and went 1-2 at the plate with one walk.
- Senior first baseman Riley Martens collected eight putouts in the contest as the team leader and was followed by senior catcher Leinani Lutu with five.
- Taylor Suchy, the senior pitcher and outfielder, saw four innings of action in the ring and tallied the game-high of three assists for a season-high.
- Sophomore second baseman Tiare Rieger matched Suchy's efforts in the infield with the game-high and season-high of three assists, posting three putouts herself.
- Junior pitcher Gabrielle Fowler subbed into the circle for innings where she collected a season-high four strikeouts and tallied her first win of the season. Fowler threw 25 strikes in her 40 total pitches.
- The team totaled four runs, seven hits, four RBI with eight assists through the 21 putouts and drew four walks and stole a single-game high of five bases.
How It Happened:
Alabama A&M hopped out to an early advantage, scoring a pair in the first inning. ETSU returned the favor in the bottom as Taylor drew a walk to land on base to proceed with two stolen bases. After landing on third, Taylor was driven in by a single from Croley. Croley then stole second once making it onto the base path and was then driven home after Lutu singled up the middle to even the score. The Bulldogs then tallied a run in the top of the second to secure the advantage 3-2. The Bucs rallied in the bottom of the sixth after a walk, a single and a perfectly laid sacrifice bunt from Taylor. Croley stepped up to the plate and singled up the middle to drive in Coleman and Riger to send the Bucs up, 4-3. Alabama A&M was unable to rally in the top of the seventh and ETSU secured their eighth win of the season.
GAME 2 NOTABLES (W, 2-0)
- ETSU registered the second shutout of the 2026 campaign with the 2-0 victory, the first being the 17-0 historic win over Tennessee State.
- Croley boasted a career-high three assists in the win alongside her lone putout, and went 1-2 at the plate with two walks drawn and one stolen base.
- Payton Moore, the sophomore infielder, went 2-3 at the plate as the designated player with one double to drive in one run.
- Martens tallied six putouts in the contest and was followed by Lutu with four and Taylor with three.
- Boone drew two walks and went 1-2 at the plate from a double and crossed the plate once herself.
- The team totaled two runs, six hits, one RBI, with five assists through the 21 putouts and drew seven walks and stole two bases.
How It Happened:
Amongst 12 scoreless frames laid one of splendor from the Bucs. In the second shutout of the season, ETSU registered runs in the bottom of the third and maintained the healthy lead through the final outs. Boone doubled up the middle for the second time in the series and was driven to third base after a single from Porter through the left side. With runners on first and third, Boone was able to advance to the plate after a passed ball. Porter was then placed in scoring position after advancing on the passed ball. Moore stepped up to the plate and singled to center field, allowing Porter to reach home and give the Bucs the 2-0 lead. Barnes and Muncy paired the shutout, recording a combined four strikeouts and limited the Bulldogs to just three hits through 27 at-bats with no wild pitches and no walks given.
UP NEXT
The Bucs head to Rock Hill, S.C. for the Winthrop Invitational over March 6-8 with contests scheduled against Georgia State, Bucknell and Winthrop.
