Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Bilgri, Megan (4-1)
L: REYNOSO, Samantha (2-3)
Batting:
HR: LIZZMORE, Destinee 1
RBI: LIZZMORE, Destinee 1
Base Running:
RUNS: LIZZMORE, Destinee 1

Batting:
2B: Sanchez, Laurenne 1 ; Mauga, Quirisa 1
HR: Taylor, Caroline 1 ; Andrew, Emma 1
RBI: Sanchez, Laurenne 1 ; Mauga, Quirisa 2 ; Taylor, Caroline 1 ; Andrew, Emma 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Sanchez, Laurenne 1 ; Lane, Megan 1 ; Taylor, Caroline 1 ; Andrew, Emma 1 ; Warren, Shaila 1
HBP: Lane, Megan 2
Game Leaders
Hitting
Players Mentioned

Photo by: Dannie Walls Photography
Bears Claim Doubleheader in Day Two of Black & Orange Challenge
2/24/2018 10:55:00 PM | Softball
Bilgri and Preston garner second wins of weekend tournament
MACON, Ga. – Mercer bested Eastern Kentucky and Radford in day two of the Black & Orange Challenge, improving to 4-0 in the tournament and 12-2 on the young season. The Bears defeated the Colonels in game one, 5-1, before rallying to upend Radford 3-2 in extra innings.
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Game 1: Mercer 5, Eastern Kentucky 1
Eastern Kentucky's Destinee Lizzmore started off the game with a bang, belting a solo shot to dead center field for the early 1-0 lead. That was the only hit that Lauren O'Dell surrendered in the game, settling down to strike out three batters in 11 batters faced.
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Mercer evened the game up in the bottom of the second inning with Emma Andrew unleashing her third home run of the season, blasting a solo shot over the left field fence. After a scoreless third inning, the Bears claimed the 2-1 lead with a solo homer from Caroline Taylor, her fifth of the season and fourth in four days.
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The Bears put the game away in the fifth inning, scoring three runs on two hits, taking the 5-1 lead. Mercer's first run of the inning came off an RBI double from Laurenne Sanchez, plating Shaila Warren from third. Quirisa Mauga then delivered a two-run double two batters later, bringing home Sanchez and Megan Lane.
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Megan Bilgri earned her fourth win of the season, pitching four innings of work and allowing just two hits, while punching out four batters.
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Pitchers of Record
» Win: Megan Bilgri (4-1)
» Loss: Samantha Reynoso (2-3)
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Game 2: Mercer 3, Radford 2
The Bears struck first in the bottom of the third inning as Megan Lane drove in freshman, Allie Jones, from third. Lane reached safely on a throwing error by the Highlander second baseman, allowing Mercer to take hold of a 1-0 lead.
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The Mercer lead was short lived as Radford plated two runs in the top of the fourth inning. The Highlander's first run came off an RBI double from Douglas, plating Tapia from second. Douglas later scored in the inning as Morgan was hit by a pitch with the bases-loaded, giving Radford the 2-1 advantage.
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Nearing their final at bats, the Bears came to life in the bottom of the sixth inning, rallying to knot the game at 2-2. After an Andrew double with two outs in the inning, Jones stepped up for her first collegiate triple, bringing home the game-tying run from second.
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Neither team could come up with the game-winning run in regulation, allowing the Mercer faithful to enjoy extra innings. Mercer needed just one extra inning to claim the victory as Taylor roped the game-winning RBI single to right center, bringing home Lane from third for the 3-2 triumph.
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Jill McElderry hurled seven innings of work, striking out nine batters in her second consecutive appearance. However, Stella Preston earned the win, her fourth of the season. Preston threw one inning of work, allowing one hit and striking out one batter.
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Pitchers of Record
» Win: Stella Preston (4-0)
» Loss: Abby Morrow (6-2)
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Stat of the Day
Mercer held Eastern Kentucky and Radford to just eight combined hits in 15 innings of work, yielding just three runs on the day.
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Player of the Day
Allie Jones garnered player of the day honors. Jones came up big in game two, finishing 3-for-3 at the dish with the game-tying triple in the sixth inning.
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Notables
» Mercer improved to 12-2 on the season for the first time in program history.
» The Bears scored eight runs on 15 hits in day two of the Black & Orange Challenge.
» Caroline Taylor capped off a dominant week in which she belted four home runs and tallied 11 total RBIs.
» The Bears improve to 5-2 all-time against Eastern Kentucky, while also improving to 7-3 against Radford.
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Record Update
» Mercer: 12-2
» Eastern Kentucky: 7-5
» Radford: 9-4
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Up Next
Mercer was set to play tomorrow in the final day of the Black & Orange Challenge, but due to inclement weather, the Bears' contest has been cancelled. Mercer will return to action next weekend at the Bulldog Slamboree hosted by Mississippi State. The Bears will square off with Sam Houston State, Lamar, Alcorn State and host, Mississippi State.
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Follow the Bears
For complete coverage of Mercer Softball, please follow the Bears on social media at @MercerUSoftball (Twitter), /MercerSoftball (Facebook) and @MercerUSoftball (Instagram) or visit the official home of Mercer Athletics at MercerBears.com.
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Game 1: Mercer 5, Eastern Kentucky 1
Eastern Kentucky's Destinee Lizzmore started off the game with a bang, belting a solo shot to dead center field for the early 1-0 lead. That was the only hit that Lauren O'Dell surrendered in the game, settling down to strike out three batters in 11 batters faced.
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Mercer evened the game up in the bottom of the second inning with Emma Andrew unleashing her third home run of the season, blasting a solo shot over the left field fence. After a scoreless third inning, the Bears claimed the 2-1 lead with a solo homer from Caroline Taylor, her fifth of the season and fourth in four days.
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The Bears put the game away in the fifth inning, scoring three runs on two hits, taking the 5-1 lead. Mercer's first run of the inning came off an RBI double from Laurenne Sanchez, plating Shaila Warren from third. Quirisa Mauga then delivered a two-run double two batters later, bringing home Sanchez and Megan Lane.
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Megan Bilgri earned her fourth win of the season, pitching four innings of work and allowing just two hits, while punching out four batters.
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Pitchers of Record
» Win: Megan Bilgri (4-1)
» Loss: Samantha Reynoso (2-3)
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Game 2: Mercer 3, Radford 2
The Bears struck first in the bottom of the third inning as Megan Lane drove in freshman, Allie Jones, from third. Lane reached safely on a throwing error by the Highlander second baseman, allowing Mercer to take hold of a 1-0 lead.
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The Mercer lead was short lived as Radford plated two runs in the top of the fourth inning. The Highlander's first run came off an RBI double from Douglas, plating Tapia from second. Douglas later scored in the inning as Morgan was hit by a pitch with the bases-loaded, giving Radford the 2-1 advantage.
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Nearing their final at bats, the Bears came to life in the bottom of the sixth inning, rallying to knot the game at 2-2. After an Andrew double with two outs in the inning, Jones stepped up for her first collegiate triple, bringing home the game-tying run from second.
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Neither team could come up with the game-winning run in regulation, allowing the Mercer faithful to enjoy extra innings. Mercer needed just one extra inning to claim the victory as Taylor roped the game-winning RBI single to right center, bringing home Lane from third for the 3-2 triumph.
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Jill McElderry hurled seven innings of work, striking out nine batters in her second consecutive appearance. However, Stella Preston earned the win, her fourth of the season. Preston threw one inning of work, allowing one hit and striking out one batter.
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Pitchers of Record
» Win: Stella Preston (4-0)
» Loss: Abby Morrow (6-2)
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Stat of the Day
Mercer held Eastern Kentucky and Radford to just eight combined hits in 15 innings of work, yielding just three runs on the day.
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Player of the Day
Allie Jones garnered player of the day honors. Jones came up big in game two, finishing 3-for-3 at the dish with the game-tying triple in the sixth inning.
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Notables
» Mercer improved to 12-2 on the season for the first time in program history.
» The Bears scored eight runs on 15 hits in day two of the Black & Orange Challenge.
» Caroline Taylor capped off a dominant week in which she belted four home runs and tallied 11 total RBIs.
» The Bears improve to 5-2 all-time against Eastern Kentucky, while also improving to 7-3 against Radford.
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Record Update
» Mercer: 12-2
» Eastern Kentucky: 7-5
» Radford: 9-4
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Up Next
Mercer was set to play tomorrow in the final day of the Black & Orange Challenge, but due to inclement weather, the Bears' contest has been cancelled. Mercer will return to action next weekend at the Bulldog Slamboree hosted by Mississippi State. The Bears will square off with Sam Houston State, Lamar, Alcorn State and host, Mississippi State.
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Follow the Bears
For complete coverage of Mercer Softball, please follow the Bears on social media at @MercerUSoftball (Twitter), /MercerSoftball (Facebook) and @MercerUSoftball (Instagram) or visit the official home of Mercer Athletics at MercerBears.com.
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