East Tennessee State University’s softball team split a doubleheader against Samford on April 24, winning the second game after dropping the first in their final home Southern Conference series of the season.
The results mark an important moment for the Bucs as they look to finish their home schedule on a strong note. The split leaves East Tennessee State with an overall record of 18-26 and a conference record of 6-12, while Samford moves to 25-27 overall and 13-5 in conference play.
In the opening game, East Tennessee State lost by a score of 0-2. Despite solid defensive efforts—including a season-high four assists from one player and another collecting a career-high fourteen putouts—the Bucs managed only two hits and two walks across twenty at-bats. Martens and Porter were the only players to draw walks from Samford’s pitching staff, while two other team members recorded hits during the contest.
The second game saw East Tennessee State rebound with a commanding 7-0 victory. Barnes pitched her first complete-game shutout for ETSU, allowing just three hits over seven innings and striking out two batters. The Bucs’ offense was highlighted by Croley’s three-run home run in the first inning, Boone’s solo homer in the fourth, and Moore’s three-run shot—her tenth of both her career and season—in the fifth inning. Boone went three-for-three at bat, marking her first perfect day at plate this season with three or more at-bats.
Defensively, one player led with three assists while others contributed five putouts each. Taylor added her twenty-first stolen base of the year during this outing as well. The team’s third shutout win this season is its most since recording four in 2023.
Looking ahead, East Tennessee State will close out its home schedule on Tuesday, April 28 with a doubleheader against Gardner-Webb at Betty Basler Field.
