April 26, 2003
EAST TENNESSEE STATE SWEEPS FURMAN SOFTBALL 4-3, 6-3
GREENVILLE, S.C. -- East Tennessee State fashioned a five-run sixth inning, including a two-run double by Miranda Byerly, to defeat Furman 6-3 and sweep a key Southern Conference doubleheader Saturday at Pepsi Stadium.
After Furman took a 1-0 lead on a Carolina Evans RBI single in the bottom of the fifth inning, ETSU scored five runs on five hits to rally by the Lady Paladins.
With the game tied 1-1and runner on first and third with two outs, Byerly laced a double to right-center giving the Buccaneers a 3-1 lead. Following a walk to Sheryl Clark, Rhea Holler singled to center driving in two more runs and giving ETSU a 5-1 lead.
Furman rallied in the seventh with a two-out, two-run double by Evans, but Kate Morrison bounced into a fielder's choice two batters later to retire the side and give the Buccaneers the 6-3 win.
Julia McChain (1-2) pitched a complete game allowing three runs on nine hits to pick up her first win of the year, while Furman's Meagen Johnson (8-11) surrendered four runs in relief to suffer the loss.
Lindsay Lane went 3-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI, while Holler was 2-for-3 with two RBI to lead East Tennessee State.
Evans went 2-for-3 with three RBI to pace Furman.
In game one, East Tennessee State jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Danielle Spetar led off the inning with an infield single followed by a Janine Sprague double to left. Spetar scored the game first run on a wild pitch. After a walk to Jessica Lonsinger, Sprague scored on a Lindsay Lane ground out to shortstop. A Byerly single to center scored Lonsinger to cap the first inning scoring.
Furman trimmed the Buccaneer advantage to 3-1 in the bottom of the fourth when Jessica Matthews laced a two-out double to left-center field to score Sarah Scott from first base.
ETSU extended its lead back to three runs in the top of the fifth. With runners on first and second, Clark doubled down the left field line to drive home Lane.
After Furman scored single runs in the fifth and sixth to cut the lead to 4-3, Kelli Leachman led of the seventh with a double down the right field line. After pinch runner Kristen Arnold moved to third on a sacrifice by Karen Myers, however, LaKerah Barr grounded out and Scott struck out to end the rally.
Jennifer Fraser (6-12) tossed 5.1 innings allowing only one earned run to pick up the win for East Tennessee State. Tiffany McVay pitched 1.2 scoreless innings of relief to earn her second save of the year.
Rachel Henley gave up three first inning runs to suffer the loss for Furman. Henley falls to 8-12 on the season.
Byerly and Spetar led the Buccaneers with two hits apiece, while Matthews went 2-for-3 to lead Furman.
The sweep improves East Tennessee State to 20-24 overall and 6-10 in the Southern Conference, while Furman falls to 18-26, 7-10.
The Lady Paladins and Buccaneers play the series finale at 1 p.m. Sunday at Pepsi Stadium.