Saturday, April 14
Athens, Ga.
2 P.M.
Mercer University
27-12
5
at
2
#5 Georgia
36-6
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
R
H
E
Mercer
1
0
0
0
0
1
0
3
5
8
4
Georgia
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
4
1
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Preston, Stella (9-3)
L: Bass, Kylie (12-2)
Batting:
2B: Rood, Micayla 1
3B: Warren, Shaila 1
HR: Lane, Megan 1 ; Taylor, Caroline 1
RBI: Sanchez, Laurenne 1 ; Lane, Megan 1 ; Taylor, Caroline 1 ; Warren, Shaila 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Rud, Meghan 1 ; Lane, Megan 1 ; Taylor, Caroline 1 ; Rood, Micayla 1 ; Warren, Shaila 1
SB: Rud, Meghan 3 ; Sanchez, Laurenne 1
HBP: Taylor, Caroline 1 ; Walsh, Abby 1
Batting:
3B: Bryan, Ciara 1
RBI: Bryan, Ciara 1 ; Burton, Kendall 1
SH: Armistead, Tyler 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Morgan, Jessica 1 ; Bryan, Ciara 1
SB: Emanuel, Cortni 1 ; DiCarlo, Alyssa 1
HBP: DiCarlo, Alyssa 1
Game Leaders
AB
5
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
5
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
INF
/ SoftballC/OF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
P
/ SoftballOF
/ SoftballOF
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
1B
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
Photo by: Judy Stapleton
Bears Shock No. 5 Georgia, Splits Saturday Doubleheader
4/14/2018 5:35:00 PM | Softball
Mercer outscores Bulldogs 10-9 on the day, including 5-2 in game one
ATHENS, Ga. – Mercer earned a hard-fought split in Saturday's doubleheader, besting No. 5 Georgia by the final score of 5-2 in game one before falling 7-5 in game two. With the split, Mercer improves to 27-13 on the season, including 1-18 all-time against the Bulldogs after stunning the nation's fifth-ranked team in front of a raucous crowd.
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Game 1: Mercer 5, Georgia 2
Mercer wasted no time in showing Athens what it is made of. With two outs in the inning, Megan Lane continued her scorching performance as of late with a solo shot to left center, silencing the raucous Georgia crowd. The Bears then got the job done defensively in the bottom of the inning with one out and runners on second and third. Georgia's Alysen Febrey flew out to left fielder Shaila Warren, who then proceeded to hose down Cortni Emanuel at home to end the inning.
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The Bulldogs capitalized in the second inning, scoring two runs on just one hit and one Mercer error. The lone hit came off the bat of Ciara Bryan with an extra-base knock to left center. Georgia left the bases stranded as Jill McElderry induced an inning-ending pop fly to keep Mercer within striking distance.
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Both offenses stalled over the next three innings with each team recording just one hit apiece. The Bears put a pair of runners on in the fifth after a single and a walk, but were unable to bring in the game-tying run. However, Mercer tied the game up with one swing of the bat to lead off the sixth inning as Caroline Taylor sent a screaming line drive over the left center fence.
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The Bulldogs threatened to score in the bottom of the sixth after a hit and then throwing error placed two UGA runners on second and third with nobody out. Mercer stymied the Georgia bats, forcing three consecutive outs including a sharp line drive directly at Quirisa Mauga.
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It was Mercer's turn to threaten in the top of the seventh inning after Lane reached on a bunt and then Taylor was struck by a pitch with two away. The Bulldogs escaped the jam on the next at bat as Mauga's liner needed just a few more inches to drop in between short and left field, instead falling in the outstretched glove of Alyssa DiCarlo.
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Mercer put the game away in the eighth inning, all with two outs in the frame. Micayla Rood jump started the offense with a two-out double to center field to keep the momentum in favor of the Orange & Black. Warren then provided Mercer with the game-winning at bat after an RBI triple to right center, emphatically sliding into third. The Bears did not stop there, scoring two more runs in the inning off a Georgia error and an RBI single from Laurenne Sanchez.
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Stella Preston slammed the door shut on the Bulldogs in the eighth inning, earning the win for the Bears. Preston threw two and two-thirds innings, not yielding a hit to Georgia, while improving to 9-3 on the season.
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Pitchers of Record
» Win: Stella Preston (9-3)
» Loss: Kylie Bass (12-2)
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Game 2: Georgia 7, Mercer 5
Mercer picked up where it left off in the top of the first inning, scoring four runs on two hits and one Georgia error. The Bears' first run came off Avant's bobble inside the circle, allowing Mauga to reach base and Rud to come in from third. Emma Andrew stepped up to the plate next and made Georgia pay for its blunder with a three-run jack to left center, her seventh of the season.
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The Bulldogs soared back in the game, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first inning and then tying the contest at four apiece in the bottom of the second. Two of the three first-inning runs came off Kendall Burton's triple to center field. Georgia tied the game up off of O'Neal's solo home run to lead off the second inning.
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After a rare scoreless third inning, Georgia used the fourth inning to claim the advantage and the momentum after scoring three runs on four hits. Two of the Bulldogs' three runs came off RBI singles, running Georgia's score streak to seven unanswered runs.
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The Bears ended Georgia's unanswered streak after plating one run on one hit and two errors in the top of the sixth inning. Mercer trimmed the Bulldog lead to 7-5 after Abby Walsh crossed the plate following a misplayed ball up the middle off the bat of Warren.
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Georgia's Mary Wilson Avant shut the door in the seventh inning, capping off the complete-game victory and ruining the hopes of a Mercer sweep. Lauren O'Dell picked up the loss for the Bears, allowing three runs on five hits over two innings pitched.
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Pitchers of Record
» Win: Mary Wilson Avant (4-1)
» Loss: Lauren O'Dell (2-2)
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Stat of the Day
Mercer and Georgia combined for an unbelievable 14 steals on the day, including eight from the Bears. It comes as no surprise that Meghan Rud successfully swiped six bags today, three in each contest. Caroline Taylor even jumped in on the action, stealing second in game two.
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Player of the Day
Shaila Warren came up big for the Bears today, registering one hit in each game, while scoring one run and driving in another. Warren's biggest hit of the day proved to be the game-winning triple in the top of the eighth inning in game one, allowing Rood to score for the go-ahead run. Warren also finished the day with five putouts and one assist.
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Notables
» Mercer improves to 1-18 all-time against Georgia after shocking the No. 5 Bulldogs in game one.
» With the win in game one, Mercer has now knocked off Top 25 opponents in back-to-back-to-back seasons. Mercer defeated No. 12 James Madison last season, 4-0 and No. 17 Minnesota (5-2) on March 12, 2016.
» Mercer handed Georgia just its third loss at home this season.
» The Bears cranked three home runs on the day, all three from different players.
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Record Update
» Mercer: 27-13
» Georgia: 37-6
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Up Next
Mercer is scheduled to return to action tomorrow at Jack Turner Softball Stadium for a 2 p.m. game, closing the three-game series. There is pending weather in the forecast, so stay tuned to MercerBears.com for any changes in the schedule.
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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, Georgia 2
Mercer wasted no time in showing Athens what it is made of. With two outs in the inning, Megan Lane continued her scorching performance as of late with a solo shot to left center, silencing the raucous Georgia crowd. The Bears then got the job done defensively in the bottom of the inning with one out and runners on second and third. Georgia's Alysen Febrey flew out to left fielder Shaila Warren, who then proceeded to hose down Cortni Emanuel at home to end the inning.
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The Bulldogs capitalized in the second inning, scoring two runs on just one hit and one Mercer error. The lone hit came off the bat of Ciara Bryan with an extra-base knock to left center. Georgia left the bases stranded as Jill McElderry induced an inning-ending pop fly to keep Mercer within striking distance.
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Both offenses stalled over the next three innings with each team recording just one hit apiece. The Bears put a pair of runners on in the fifth after a single and a walk, but were unable to bring in the game-tying run. However, Mercer tied the game up with one swing of the bat to lead off the sixth inning as Caroline Taylor sent a screaming line drive over the left center fence.
Â
The Bulldogs threatened to score in the bottom of the sixth after a hit and then throwing error placed two UGA runners on second and third with nobody out. Mercer stymied the Georgia bats, forcing three consecutive outs including a sharp line drive directly at Quirisa Mauga.
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It was Mercer's turn to threaten in the top of the seventh inning after Lane reached on a bunt and then Taylor was struck by a pitch with two away. The Bulldogs escaped the jam on the next at bat as Mauga's liner needed just a few more inches to drop in between short and left field, instead falling in the outstretched glove of Alyssa DiCarlo.
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Mercer put the game away in the eighth inning, all with two outs in the frame. Micayla Rood jump started the offense with a two-out double to center field to keep the momentum in favor of the Orange & Black. Warren then provided Mercer with the game-winning at bat after an RBI triple to right center, emphatically sliding into third. The Bears did not stop there, scoring two more runs in the inning off a Georgia error and an RBI single from Laurenne Sanchez.
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Stella Preston slammed the door shut on the Bulldogs in the eighth inning, earning the win for the Bears. Preston threw two and two-thirds innings, not yielding a hit to Georgia, while improving to 9-3 on the season.
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Pitchers of Record
» Win: Stella Preston (9-3)
» Loss: Kylie Bass (12-2)
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Game 2: Georgia 7, Mercer 5
Mercer picked up where it left off in the top of the first inning, scoring four runs on two hits and one Georgia error. The Bears' first run came off Avant's bobble inside the circle, allowing Mauga to reach base and Rud to come in from third. Emma Andrew stepped up to the plate next and made Georgia pay for its blunder with a three-run jack to left center, her seventh of the season.
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The Bulldogs soared back in the game, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first inning and then tying the contest at four apiece in the bottom of the second. Two of the three first-inning runs came off Kendall Burton's triple to center field. Georgia tied the game up off of O'Neal's solo home run to lead off the second inning.
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After a rare scoreless third inning, Georgia used the fourth inning to claim the advantage and the momentum after scoring three runs on four hits. Two of the Bulldogs' three runs came off RBI singles, running Georgia's score streak to seven unanswered runs.
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The Bears ended Georgia's unanswered streak after plating one run on one hit and two errors in the top of the sixth inning. Mercer trimmed the Bulldog lead to 7-5 after Abby Walsh crossed the plate following a misplayed ball up the middle off the bat of Warren.
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Georgia's Mary Wilson Avant shut the door in the seventh inning, capping off the complete-game victory and ruining the hopes of a Mercer sweep. Lauren O'Dell picked up the loss for the Bears, allowing three runs on five hits over two innings pitched.
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Pitchers of Record
» Win: Mary Wilson Avant (4-1)
» Loss: Lauren O'Dell (2-2)
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Stat of the Day
Mercer and Georgia combined for an unbelievable 14 steals on the day, including eight from the Bears. It comes as no surprise that Meghan Rud successfully swiped six bags today, three in each contest. Caroline Taylor even jumped in on the action, stealing second in game two.
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Player of the Day
Shaila Warren came up big for the Bears today, registering one hit in each game, while scoring one run and driving in another. Warren's biggest hit of the day proved to be the game-winning triple in the top of the eighth inning in game one, allowing Rood to score for the go-ahead run. Warren also finished the day with five putouts and one assist.
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Notables
» Mercer improves to 1-18 all-time against Georgia after shocking the No. 5 Bulldogs in game one.
» With the win in game one, Mercer has now knocked off Top 25 opponents in back-to-back-to-back seasons. Mercer defeated No. 12 James Madison last season, 4-0 and No. 17 Minnesota (5-2) on March 12, 2016.
» Mercer handed Georgia just its third loss at home this season.
» The Bears cranked three home runs on the day, all three from different players.
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Record Update
» Mercer: 27-13
» Georgia: 37-6
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Up Next
Mercer is scheduled to return to action tomorrow at Jack Turner Softball Stadium for a 2 p.m. game, closing the three-game series. There is pending weather in the forecast, so stay tuned to MercerBears.com for any changes in the schedule.
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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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