Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 ROCK HILL, S.C. - East Tennessee State softball opened the Winthrop Invitational with a pair of losses on Friday afternoon and evening.  The Bucs (9-3, 0-0 SoCon) fell to Georgia State (13-9, 0-0 SBC) 4-6 in game one and to Winthrop (12-10, 0-0 Big South) 7-8 in game two.

GAME 1 NOTABLES (L, 4-6 vs. Georgia State)
How It Happened:
ETSU jumped out with a hot start, scoring two in the top of the first by way of a pair of singles, a pair of stolen bases and a pair of fielders choices, only for the favor to be returned in the bottom of the second and third as Georgia State tied it up with one run in each inning.  After a few scoreless innings, the Panthers jumped ahead with back-to-back two run innings, leading the contest 6-2 heading into the seventh.  The Bucs were fruitful in the rally, with two singles placing runners on and a ground out and Lutu triple to send in two additional runs, but ultimately the squad fell short, tallying just their second loss of the campaign.

• Abigail Taylor and Riley Croley both collected a pair of stolen bases to tally the team's four total in the outing.  Three of the four stolen bases led to runs scored.  The pair also led the Bucs at the plate.  Taylor went 2-4 with two runs scored wheil Croley went 3-3 with two runs scored and one walk drawn.
• Leinani Lutu tallied three putouts in the field with one assist and drove in two runs with her first triple of the season in the bottom of the seventh inning.  Lutu is the first Buc to record a triple in the 2026 campaign.
• Taylor Suchy drove in her seventh RBI of the season on a ground out.  Suchy spent 5.0 innings in the circle and racked up two strikeouts.
• The team totaled 30 at-bats, four runs, seven hits, three RBI, one triple, drew two walks, stole four bases and tallied nine assists through the 18 putouts.

GAME 2 NOTABLES (L, 7-8 at Winthrop, 8 inn.)
How It Happened:
Winthrop jumped out to an early advantage, holding ETSU scorless through the first three frames.  The Bucs saw a spark in the top of the fourth where five singles, a hit-by-pitch and a walk brought in four runs.  The Bucs were next to score, this time in the top of the sixth with two runs from three singles, a wild pitch and a stolen base and the top of the seventh with a single that advanced around the bags due to a Winthrop error to tie the game 7-7.  ETSU saw the first extra-innings game of the season against the Eagles.  The Bucs battled back from a three-run deficit to tie the contest up in the top of the seventh, holding the Eagles scoreless through the bottom of the frame to send the outing to extra innings.  ETSU ultimately fell in the bottom of the eight when Winthrop scored the game-winning run after being unable to put a run on the board in the top of the frame.

• Seven unique individuals crossed the plate to register a run in the outing - Taylor, Suchy, Lutu, Boone, Porter, Moore and Coleman.  
• Abigail Taylor was the lone Buccaneer to steal a bag, adding to her season total of 12. Taylor has now secured stolen bases in seven of 12 outings this season.
• Freshmen infielders Hailey Porter and Riley Croley drove in two runs apiece, with Porter going 1-4 at the plate with one run and two RBI and Croley going 1-4 with two RBI and one walk.
• Senior pitcher Marissa Barnes registered a season-high four strikeouts on the mound.
• Leinani Lutu led fielding efforts with six putouts and one assist to be followed by Haliey Porter with five putouts and Tiare Rieger with two putouts and two assists.
• The team totaled 34 at-bats, seven runs, 11 hits, six RBI, drew five walks and two hit-by-pitches, stole one bag and tallied seven assists through the 23 putouts.  

UP NEXT
ETSU returns to action in the Winthrop Invitational at 1:30 p.m. at Winthrop and 6 p.m. versus Winthrop at Terry Field in Rock Hill, S.C..