The East Tennessee State University (ETSU) baseball team lost its first Southern Conference game of the season on March 20 at UNC Greensboro, falling by a score of 6-3. The defeat ended ETSU’s five-game winning streak and brought the team’s record to 14-6 for the season.
This conference matchup was significant as it marked the start of league play for ETSU, setting the tone for their performance in upcoming games. The Bucs started strong offensively, with Curless nearly hitting for the cycle and driving in all three runs for ETSU. He finished the night going 3-for-4 at the plate, including a two-run home run. Conner also contributed with a multi-hit game, finishing 2-for-4 and scoring a run.
Bell started on the mound for ETSU and took his second loss of the year, bringing his record to 3-2. In his first Southern Conference start, Bell allowed five runs on eight hits over five innings but managed a season-high six strikeouts. After Bell left the game, relievers from ETSU’s bullpen did not allow any earned runs for the remainder of the contest.
ETSU scored early in the top of the first inning after singles from Ferguson, Conner, and Curless pushed across their first run. However, UNC Greensboro responded in the bottom of the second with back-to-back solo home runs by Luke Holland and Brody Gardner—marking the first home runs Bell had allowed in his collegiate career after pitching more than 24 innings without surrendering one.
Despite briefly regaining a lead thanks to Curless’s ninth home run of the season in just his twentieth game, ETSU could not hold off UNCG. A three-run homer by Jacob Dilley put UNCG ahead in the fourth inning. The Spartans added an unearned run in the seventh while pitchers Noah Chapman and JT Weaver combined to retire twelve straight Buccaneer hitters to close out their win.
Looking ahead, ETSU will try to even up its series against UNC Greensboro in game two scheduled for Saturday afternoon.
