Thursday, May 11, 2006

BOCA RATON, Fla. -- East Tennessee State survived the first elimination game of the weekend by scoring the final six runs of the game in a 6-3 win over Gardner-Webb in the second round of the Atlantic Sun Conference Softball Championship on Thursday.

A five-run third inning was the difference as the Buccaneers (21-35) overcame a 3-0 first-inning deficit. ETSU totaled 11 hits in the game, including nine hits and five runs off of starter Haley Scism (7-22).

Jessie Hackworth delivered the big blow for ETSU with a three-run home run in the third. Mary Catherine Vercoe had two hits, scoring once and batting in one.

Brittney Lehrschall (4-9) got the win in relief, throwing the final 6 1/3 innings and giving up just two hits. Christie Barlow had two hits, one run and one RBI for Gardner-Webb.

ETSU moves on to play the loser of the Florida Atlantic-Campbell game at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, while Gardner-Webb ends the tournament without a win.

Release courtesy of FAU Athletic Communications