CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - East Tennessee State softball advances to the next round of the 2026 Southern Conference Tournament after defeating Mercer in the first round. The Bucs (22-28, 8-13 SoCon) downed the Bears (20-30, 8-13 SoCon) by way of a complete game no-hitter from
Eden Muncy.
Muncy's no-hitter was the fourth in program history and the third complete-game no-hitter in program history as well as the first in the Southern Conference Tournament since the 2016 season. The complete-game was the third for Muncy is the last nine days, all three resulting in a win.
NOTABLES (W, 7-0)
How It Happened:
ETSU and Mercer were scoreless through the first three frames with just two hits on the board for the Bucs from the bottom of the second. The Bucs busted the offense open in the bottom of the fourth and fifth innings with a combined seven runs through the two frames, holding Mercer scoreless through it all. In the bottom of the fourth, Boone walked and Lutu singled to place runners on. Rieger laid down a sac bunt to place both Boone and Lutu in scoring position. Croley then drove in Boone on an RBI single to short and Martens brought Lutu across on a sac bunt. In the bottom of the fifth, ETSU busted the game open with a five-run inning. Taylor walked and advanced to third on a Moore single to right field. Taylor crossed the plate after a Boone single up the middle. On a Lutu sac bunt, Moore and Boone advanced to scoring positions at second and third. Fonesca (pinch running for Moore) was sent across the plate on a single to right field by Rieger and both Rieger and Boone scored on a single up the middle from Martens. Coleman-Tillman drove in the final run of the contest with a single up the middle that scored Martens from second base. Muncy's complete-game no-hitter powered the Bucs to six three-up three-down innings with three strikeouts, 15 flyouts and three ground outs.
- Muncy boasted a complete-game no-hitter in the outing with three strikeouts for the fourth in program history and the first in the SoCon Tournament since 2016. Outside of two walks in the top of the fifth, Muncy threw a perfect game, sending the Bears three-up, three-down in six of seven innings.
- Five individuals recorded RBI singles with one sac bunt RBI to account for the seven runs.
- Whitney Boone led offensively with a 2-3 day at the plate with one walk, playing a role in three of the seven total runs from one RBI and two runs scored. Boone saw three outs from left field.
- Riley Martens collected a season-high three RBI on her single up the middle in the fifth and her sac bunt in the fourth. Martens tallied two outs at first base.
- Tiare Rieger and Riley Croley each went 2-3 at the plate with two RBI and one run scored between the pair, totaling three outs and one assist in the infield.
- Leilani Coleman-Tillman was the fourth individual to go 2-3, tallying one RBI with three outs in right field.
- Hailey Porter was the most efficient fielder with the team-high of six outs and one assist.
- The team totaled 27 at-bats, seven runs, 12 hits, seven RBI, drew three walks and registered three assists through the 21 putouts.
UP NEXT
No. 6 ETSU will face No. 3 Western Carolina at 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 7 in Frost Stadium.
