Softball secures series win over Mercer with doubleheader sweep

For the third time this season and the second time in conference play the Bucs won both games in a doubleheader

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 MACON, Ga. - East Tennessee State softball won both contests in the series-opening doubleheader to clinch the series win. The Bucs (21-27, 8-12 SoCon) downed the Bears (19-29, 7-13 SoCon) 8-1 in the first contest and 7-3 in the second.

ETSU captures its third SoCon series win of the season, the most for the program since the three in the 2017 and 2016 seasons.

GAME 1 NOTABLES (W, 8-1)
How It Happened:
Boone started the offense in the top of the second with her fifth career home run on a solo shot over the centerfield fence to tally the first run of the series. Mercer returned fire with a run of their own in the bottom of the second to tie the contest at 1-1. The matchup remained locked at 1-1 through the remainder of the innings until the Bucs blew the offense open in the top of the seven with a seven-run inning. The action began after four consecutive singles brought in the game-winning run and exploded after a three RBI double from Boone. Boone then reached the plate on a single through the right side from Croley. Croley was advanced on a single from Stowell and the pair were sent home on a two RBI triple from Suchy to drive the advantage up 8-1 and eventually win the contest after the bottom of the frame.

ETSU secured its first 20-win season since 2019 and just the 14th 20-win season in program history.
Eden Muncy threw her third complete game of the season that resulted in a win and her fifth total of the season. Muncy collected two strikeouts and limited the Bears to just one run on three hits through 27 batters.
Whitney Boone led the offense with a 3-3 day at the plate, tying her career-high of four RBI from a home run and a double. Boone tallied two runs herself and drew one walk in the process. Boone is just the second member of the squad to have a perfect day at the plate with three or more at-bats.
Taylor Suchy went 2-2 with two RBI from her first triple of the season and crossed the plate herself after reaching on a single to account for three of the runs on the day as a pinch hitter.
Maddison Stowell and Abigail Taylor recorded two hits apiece while Taylor was responsible for six of the 21 outs for the team-high.
Riley Croley and Talya Stonebraker accounted for two RBI, one apiece, on a pair of singles in the top of the seventh inning. Croley owned both assists on defense and tallied four outs alongside Hailey Porter with her own four.
The team totaled 34 at-bats, eight runs, 14 hits, eight RBI, drew two walks and collected two assists through the 21 putouts.
The 14 hits by the Bucs is the fourth most in a contest during the 2026 season and the 34 at-bats is tied for second.

GAME 2 NOTABLES (W, 7-3)
How It Happened:
Mercer struck first with a run in the bottom of the third inning to open scoring in the contest. ETSU responded with three runs in the top of the fourth to secure a strong lead. A pair of singles advanced Taylor across the plate for the first run and placed Moore in scoring position to be driven in on a single from Croley to right field, which also scored Lutu who reached on an MU error, for the three runs. The Bucs placed a fourth run on the board in the top of the fifth after Porter singled and advanced to second on a Mercer error to be driven in by a Moore single up the middle. Both teams were scoreless through the sixth inning and the Bucs commanded the lead in the top of the seventh with a pair of hit-by-pitches that were driven in on a Lutu single to left field and an error by the Bears. Lutu then scored the seventh run of the outing after Boone singled to left field.

Payton Moore led the offense with a 2-3 day at the plate with two runs and two RBI.
Riley Croley collected two RBI on her lone hit of the contest and registered three assists in the field.
Hailey Porter totaled three assists and one putout on defense and went 1-3 with two runs scored on offense.
Riley Martens and Leinani Lutu tied for the team-high in putouts with seven apiece.
Tiare Rieger tallied four putouts and three assists in the field.
Marissa Barnes threw 5.1 innings with a season-high four strikeouts through 25 batters faced. She earns her third win of the season. Barnes also collected two assists in the field.
Gabrielle Fowler secured her second save of the season in 1.2 innings with eight batters faced and one strikeout, holding the Bears to just two hits.
The team totaled 30 at-bats, seven runs, eight hits, five RBI, drew one walk and totaled 10 assists through the 21 putouts.