BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. - Just two days after falling victim to late-game heroics in a 5-4 loss at Campbell, the ETSU softball team flipped the script, using a two-run seventh inning to seal a come-from behind road win over Gardner-Webb. The Buccaneers won both games of Tuesday's double-header and manufactured 17 total runs on 23 hits, ETSU's most runs in consecutive outings since February 23, 2013.
ETSU defeated Gardner-Webb, 9-8, in game one of the double-header, and, 8-5, in Game Two.
The Bucs (2-4) fell behind early on in the first game, as Gardner-Webb opened play with a two-run first frame; however, ETSU responded by scoring six unanswered runs.
Sophomore infielder Kelsey Chernak singled to lead off the second inning and was driven home two batters later by an Alex Everett single to center field. The next batter, Latosha Rectenwald, then cleared the bases with a two-run homer to left field, giving the Bucs a 3-2 lead.
Rectenwald, who is batting .438 through ETSU's first six games, went 4-for-7 at the plate with two home runs, four RBI, and three runs in the Bucs' two wins Tuesday.
The Bulldogs (1-3) did not go down without a fight, however, regaining the lead thanks to a six-run fourth inning highlighted by six consecutive hits: four straight singles and two doubles.
Suddenly trailing, 8-6, ETSU cut its deficit to one run in the fifth inning when Mykeah Johnson drove an RBI double to right field to plate Taylor Carter. In ETSU's 5-4 loss to Campbell Sunday, Johnson hit a go-ahead, solo home run to give ETSU a 3-2 lead in the seventh inning.
With ETSU trailing, 8-7, and down to its final out, Carter extended the game with a two-out single before being scored by a Danielle Knoetze game-tying double. Knoetze then scored the eventual game-winning run on a Gardner-Webb throwing error.
Nine ETSU players accounted for 12 hits in the win. Carter, Kelsey Smith, and Nicole Fox each had two hits for the Buccaneers. Carter finished the day 5-for-7 at the plate with four RBI and three runs.
The Bucs' offense continued to fire on all cylinders in game two of the double-header, taking an early, 3-0, advantage following a three-run third that featured back-to-back home runs by Cassi Pickett and Rectenwald. ETSU scored five more runs in the fifth and sixth innings to take a commanding 8-2 lead.
ETSU carried that advantage into the final frame, where the Bucs held off a seventh-inning Gardner-Webb rally to simultaneously seal the 8-5 victory and series sweep.
Senior Whitney Leon picked up the win for ETSU, striking out a career-high seven batters in six innings of work and allowing just two earned runs. Meanwhile, Carter recorded the game's final out to earn her first career save.
The Bucs will look to extend their two-game win streak this weekend when they travel to Greenville, N.C., to take part in the East Carolina Tournament Feb. 13-15 where they will meet Towson, East Carolina, Bucknell, and Marshall.