GREENSBORO, N.C. (May 8, 2024) – With its season on the line, the ETSU softball team battled and gave it everything they had; however, the Buccaneers' season ended with a 5-4 heart-breaking 10-inning loss to Wofford in Wednesday's Southern Conference Tournament single-elimination game from UNCG Softball Stadium.
Falling behind by three runs on a three-run home run by Wofford's Hope Ingle in the bottom the of the third, ETSU fought back and eventually took the lead. The Bucs pulled even at 3-3 in the top of the fifth following back-to-back run-scoring doubles by Cameron Young and Riley Nayadley.
The Buccaneer pitching staff registered six straight scoreless innings following that three-run third as Kendall Thackston worked a scoreless fifth inning and Sara Muir held the Terriers in check until the 10th inning. Muir got out of jams in the seventh and ninth innings to extend the game, and ETSU's offense finally took its first lead in in the top of the tenth.
With the international tie-breaker rule coming into play at the start of the 10th inning, Faith Adams was put on second base and she quickly moved to third when Tiare Rieger singled to right, resulting in runners on the corners and nobody out. Rieger quickly stole second to put both runners in scoring position. However, Jasmine Sanchez flew out to right, which allowed Adams to score from third, but Rieger was doubled up as she got caught in a run-down going to third base. The Bucs were only able to tack on one run in the frame and Wofford made the Blue & Gold pay in the bottom of the inning.
With Kate Platte being put on second, leadoff hitter Abbi Campbell worked an eight-pitch walk. From there, Gracie Parker singled through the right side to score the tying run and Campbell moved to third on the play. Ingle came up with the game-winning fielder's choice RBI to finish off the walk-off win in extras.
ETSU outhit Wofford, 7-6, but the Bucs only put the leadoff batter on in two of the nine innings. Young and freshman Maddison Stowell led the Bucs with two hits each. Young registered her 46th career double to extend ETSU's all-time career record.
Whitley Arnott got the start in her final collegiate game and picked up a no-decision. She tossed four innings with three runs on four hits and two strikeouts. Thackston registered the one scoreless frame in the fifth, and despite having a solid performance in relief, Muir suffered the loss. Muir (4-9) allowed two unearned runs on two hits with five strikeouts in four innings of work.
Wofford's first team all-conference selection Margaret Axelson tossed all 10 innings where she allowed four runs (three earned) on seven hits with four strikeouts (zero walks).
Wofford, who improved to 23-22 overall, advances to take on No. 4 seed Mercer at 4 p.m. on Wednesday. ETSU's season ended with an overall record of 11-39.
For more information on Buccaneer softball, visit ETSUBucs.com and click on the softball tab.
