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The Bucs hosted Bradley University Braves this past weekend for a 4 game series at Thomas Stadium. This series was the first time in school history that these teams were on each others’ schedule. Bradley, traveling from Peoria, Illinois is a private D1 University in the MVC (Missouri Valley Conference).
Game One;
First pitch at 3pm on Friday, March 13th. The Bucs managed to score a run every inning in this contest, excluding the 4th. Some major plays came in the 2nd, where The Bucs scored a total of 5 runs. In the 2nd, Ferguson singled out to center field and generated 2 RBI’s. Additionally Curless homered to center field, sending 3 runs home. This brought The Bucs to a 6-1 lead. The Bucs maintained the lead throughout the rest of the game and keep Bradley to 2 runs, and ending at 7 innings due to run rule.
Game Two, 1st of Saturday Double Header for Bucs
The first game of Saturday’s Double Header was a first pitch at Noon. This game would also end up in a run rule, ending early in the 7th. Some major plays in this contest were sprinkled throughout. To start the lead for The Bucs, Melendez homered to right field, ushering 3 RBI’s in the 2st. In the 4th, 5 runs were scored from a walk sending Ferguson to home plate, Matlock doubled to left sending Ault and Curless home.
Another score from Palmese sent a fly ball to right field pushing Melendez home, and Fetterman singled out towards third allowing Matlock to score. Two more runs came in the 6th, from Fetterman and Evans. The Braves did not score after their 2 runs in the 3rd, ending this contest at the bottom of the 7th.
Game 3, Saturday’s Game Two
The second game of the Saturday Double Header had a first pitch at 3:09pm. This was the only contest that went the full 9 innings in the 4 game series. The Bucs managed to keep the Braves scoreless for 6 innings, and only allowing 3 runs overall. Some key plays in the 3rd were a single from Ferguson, allowing Guanzon to score, and Ault making a single and sending Conner across home. Another 3rd inning score was Melendez sending a single up the middle pushing Curless and Ferguson to home plate bringing the score to 4-0.
Ferguson singled to shortstop, pushing Galusky to score in the 4th, and in the 5th Palmese hit a double up the middle allowing Ault to score. Later in the 5th, Galusky doubled down the right side to send Palmese back to home plate. Galusky scored again later in th 5th, along with Guanzon after Matlock homered to left field.
The Bucs ended the Saturday Double Header up 3-0 in the series against Bradley.
Game 4, Bucs Look to Sweep Bradley
Last game of the series, The Bucs were closing in on a series sweep. Not just any sweep, the first ever meeting of the Bucs and the Braves. ETSU wanted to set the record straight and have it be in their favor.
The Bucs went through the first 5 innings with at least one score in each. Meanwhile, the Braves were kept scoreless until the 5th, where they pushed 2 runs across home by way of Aleman and Holubowski.
The Bucs fiery offense scored 2 runs in the first from Fetterman single allowing Connor to score, and Palmese also singling and pushing Fetterman through home base. In the 2nd, The Bucs had a astonishing 6 runs. Evans scored off of a wild pitch, Conner scored of a Curless double, Melendez singled pushing Fettermen back to home base. Additionally in the 2nd, Matlock sent a fly ball to center allowing Curless to score. Palmese then stole home base uncontested. G Juarez hit a double as well in the second and sent Melendez to home.
Continuing their streak, The Bucs scored 2 more runs in the third from Ferguson and Fetterman. Matlock scored in the fourth off of a RBI from Ferguson and Connor got hit by a pitch sending Juarez home. To end the fourth, Curless singled up the middle sending 2 runners to home, Conner and Ferguson.
In the final score of the game, Bucs Catcher Juarez homered to left center and pushed The Bucs over the edge to a 15-2 lead at the bottom of the 5th. Ultimately, the Braves did not score again, and the game was called in the 6th inning.
What’s Next for The Bucs?
The Bucs were scheduled to travel down to Asheville to face UNC-A, but due to inclement weather that matchup has been postponed. The Bucs will now travel down to Greensboro to face The Spartans at UNCG Baseball Stadium.
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