Wolff shines at the plate, but Bucs drop double-header to Upstate

Senior Katie Wolff (La Grange, Texas) went a combined 4-for-6 in ETSU’s two contests Saturday afternoon, raising her batting average to a team-best .400 mark; however, ETSU was unable to overcome league-leading No. 23 USC Upstate as the Bucs suffered a pair of setbacks.

The Bucs (20-31, 7-17) will conclude their 2014 campaign Sunday, May 4 at 1:00 p.m. versus USC Upstate. Prior to the game’s opening pitch, ETSU will honor the careers of the team’s three outgoing seniors, Wolff, Jackie Baird (Ooltewah, Tenn.), and Elliana Cabrera (Hayden, Ariz.).

Playing in her last series at Betty Basler Field, Wolff enjoyed a terrific day at the plate in Game One of Saturday’s double-header. The La Grange, Texas, native was responsible for three of the Bucs’ four hits on the day as Wolff went 3-for-4. Wolff has batted .512 over her last 14 games.

Trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the third, Wolff drove a two-out double to left center to keep the inning alive for the Bucs. After the Spartans (43-5, 21-2) elected to intentionally walk Baird, who entered the weekend ranking second in the nation for home runs (20), freshman Danielle Knoetze (San Diego, Calif.) singled to third base, with Wolff scoring on a throwing error by the Spartans’ third baseman on an attempt to throw Baird out at second.

Freshman Taylor Carter (Brazil, Ind.) then followed suit with a single of her own, advancing Knoetze and Baird to second and third, respectively. On the ensuing play, right fielder Alex Everett (Soddy Daisy, Tenn.) reached base on a fielding error by the third baseman, allowing Baird to score the go-ahead run and give ETSU a 2-1 lead.

After allowing just two hits in the opening three innings, Wolff was unable to keep USC Upstate’s 20th-ranked offense in check. The senior pitcher would allow eight hits throughout the remainder of the game, including seven hits in the fourth and fifth innings, leading to eight USC Upstate runs.

USC Upstate ace Lexi Shubert finished the game strongly, allowing no ETSU runs throughout the final four innings. With the win, Shubert advanced to 18-1 on the year.

In the second game of the day’s double-header, Anna Miller broke the USC Upstate single-game record for strikeouts, fanning 18 ETSU batters en route to helping the Spartans clinch a 2-0 victory. Moving to 43-5 on the season, USC Upstate set a new program record for wins in a season.

For ETSU, Carter tossed her 15th complete game of the year, allowing just two earned runs on six hits.