East Tennessee State University’s softball team concluded its participation in the 2026 Winthrop Invitational with a split outcome on Sunday in Rock Hill, South Carolina. The Buccaneers lost their first game of the day to Georgia State University by a score of 4-1 but rebounded with a 7-5 win over Bucknell University.
In the opening matchup against Georgia State, ETSU took an early lead in the second inning with a solo home run, marking the player’s third homer of both the season and her career. However, Georgia State responded with two runs in the third inning and added two more in the sixth to secure victory. ETSU managed only two hits and one run during the contest and was unable to recover offensively.
The Buccaneers’ defense recorded six assists and 18 putouts during this game. One player registered three assists—a season-high for her—and four putouts, while another contributed two assists and two putouts.
In their second game against Bucknell, ETSU overcame a late deficit. After tying the game at 1-1 in the top of the sixth inning through singles from Moore, Boone, and Lutu, Bucknell surged ahead with four runs in their half of the sixth. Entering their final at-bat trailing by four runs, ETSU rallied for six runs—helped by three walks, a single, a double, and a three-run home run from Payton Moore. This was Moore’s fourth home run of both her season and career but marked her first multi-RBI homer this year.
A pitcher earned her first win of 2026 after throwing two innings and allowing just three hits and one run. Another starter notched seven strikeouts over five innings—the highest single-game total for an ETSU pitcher so far this season.
One player went 3-for-4 at bat with two RBIs—including a double—and scored twice herself while making three putouts defensively. Another led ETSU with seven putouts behind the plate along with one assist. A different teammate collected two assists—most on the team for that contest—while also contributing offensively with a double and scoring once.
Additionally, another Buc came off the bench as a pinch hitter to record her first double and RBI of the season.
As a team against Bucknell, ETSU tallied 11 hits across 32 at-bats along with seven RBIs and drew four walks while making three assists among their 21 defensive outs.
ETSU will return home to play Tennessee Tech on Tuesday evening at Betty Basler Field in Johnson City.
