Friday, May 09, 2008

DeLAND, Fla. - In each team's first elimination game of the 2008 Atlantic Sun Softball Championship, the No. 4 ETSU Lady Buccaneers earned the right to advance with a 4-3 victory against No. 6 Gardner-Webb at Patricia Wilson Field on Friday.

Trailing the game 2-0, the Lady Bucs plated all four runs in the third.

"That was huge, because if everybody remembers correctly, that happened to us last night," ETSU head coach Andrea Mangrum said. "We talked a lot about what we needed to do differently today if we got behind in the game."

After becoming the first No. 6 seed to defeat a No. 1 seed since 1998, Gardner-Webb’' (22-35) season came to a close.

In the third, Briana Knight, Cheniece Cason and Katy Jett hit back-to-back-to-back singles to lead off the inning for the Lady Bucs (30-32). In the next at-bat, Trisha Massenzo grounded into a fielder's choice that scored Knight to make the score 2-1.

After Massenzo stole second putting two runners in scoring position, clean-up hitter Jessie Hackworth delivered a two-RBI single to center to give ETSU a 3-2 lead. A pair of errors from the Gardner-Webb infield allowed the Lady Bucs to score the fourth run of the inning, extending the lead to 4-2.

Hackworth led the way for the Lady Bucs, going 2-3 at the plate with two RBI.

"I just know my team needs me there," Hackworth said. "My team steps up for me, so I step up for them. Marissa (Hardy) does a great job, and I told her I was going to get those runs in for her."

Gardner-Webb made a run in the fifth. With two down in the top of the frame, Jessi Williams blasted her second home run of the Championship, a solo shot, narrowing the ETSU lead to one run at 4-3.

The Bulldogs wouldn't get any closer.

ETSU starter Marissa Hardy went the distance for the Lady Bucs, giving up three runs off five hits. She fanned four batters and allowed three free passes in her second win of the Championship.

Cindy Boomhower took the loss for Gardner-Webb, her second of the post-season. She went four innings and allowed four runs, three of which were earned.

ETSU advances to play undefeated No. 5 Campbell at 6:00 p.m. ET on Friday.