Saturday, April 28
Cullowhee, N.C.
1 P.M.
Mercer University
30-14, 0
7
at
1
Western Carolina
14-32, 0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Mercer
0
1
4
0
2
0
0
7
6
1
Western Carolina
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
1
3
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Bilgri, Megan (9-6)
L: Brogden (5-8)
Batting:
2B: Andrew, Emma 1
HR: Taylor, Caroline 1
RBI: Taylor, Caroline 4 ; Jones, Allie 2 ; Rood, Micayla 1
SH: Lane, Megan 1 ; Walsh, Abby 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Rud, Meghan 1 ; Sanchez, Laurenne 2 ; Lane, Megan 1 ; Taylor, Caroline 1 ; Josselet, Catie 1 ; Andrew, Emma 1
SB: Rud, Meghan 1
Batting:
2B: Gibbons 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Gibbons 1
HBP: Armstrong 1
Game Leaders
AB
2
R
2
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
4
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
INF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
UTIL
/ SoftballC/OF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball1B
/ Softball
Mercer Splits Doubleheader in Tale of Two Games
4/28/2018 6:50:00 PM | Softball
Bears earn win No. 30 for first time since 2015
CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Mercer will have to settle for a rubber match against the Catamounts on Sunday after splitting the doubleheader on Saturday, claiming game one (7-1) before slipping in the second go round (9-1). Mercer pitching stole the show in game one, yielding one unearned run on one hit, while the Catamount bats came to life in game two, blasting four home runs in a single game for the second time this month.
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Game One: Mercer 7, Western Carolina 1
Mercer was the first to jump on the board, scoring one run in the second inning. The Bears had a chance to score in the first with runners on first and second with nobody out, failing to take the go-ahead run. However, in the second inning with runners on the corners and one down, Micayla Rood plated the first tally with an RBI ground out to short to bring home Emma Andrew.
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The very next inning proved to be a monster inning for the Bears after loading the bases with nobody on and the power bat at the plate in the form of Caroline Taylor. The redshirt senior unloaded on a ball to deep left field and all the fans could do was watch it sail away for the grand slam, her 11th long ball of the season, as Mercer took the 5-0 lead.
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Mercer added two more insurance runs in the fifth inning thanks to Allie Jones' pitch-hit single to left center, bringing home Laurenne Sanchez and Catie Josselet for the 7-0 advantage.
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The Western Carolina bats had been stymied all game until Gibbons led off the seventh inning with a double, breaking up Megan Bilgri's no-hitter. Gibbons later scored in the inning off a fielding error by Megan Lane, taking the shutout away from Bilgri.
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The Illinois senior pitched a gem for Mercer, hurling seven complete innings with one hit and one unearned run. Bilgri also struck out five batters, while walking two, running her record to 9-6 on the season.
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Pitchers of Record
» Win: Megan Bilgri (9-6)
» Loss: Haley Brogden (5-8)
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Game Two: Western Carolina 9, Mercer 1
Just like in game one, the Bears jumped on the board first, this time in the top of the first inning. After a two-out walk by Megan Lane, Taylor plated her fifth RBI of the day with a single to center field, allowing Lane to come all the way around from first for the 1-0 advantage.
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The Catamounts seized momentum in the bottom of the first inning after a controversial call at short allowed Western Carolina to load the bases with one out. Two batters later, Shaina Reed unloaded the bases with a grand slam to right center for the 4-1 lead.
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Mercer tried to cut into the deficit in the third inning with two runners on and nobody out. However, a strike out, fly out and then a put out at home disabled the Bears from plating a run. Sanchez's single in the third inning would be the last hit of the game for Mercer.
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The Catamounts put the game away in the fourth and fifth inning, scoring a combined five runs on six hits, including three homers. Western Carolina capped the game off with a two-run double from Reed in the bottom of the fifth inning to activate the run rule.
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Pitchers of Record
» Win: Kinsey Liscio (5-8)
» Loss: Jill McElderry (9-3)
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Stat of the Day
The Catamount Softball Complex proved to be a launching pad today as both teams combined for five home runs. Mercer cranked out one off the bat of Taylor, while Western Carolina hit all four of its homers in the second game.
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Player of the Day
Megan Bilgri was today's Player of the Day for Mercer, dominating the entirety of game one. The senior righty had a no-hitter going through the first six innings of play before that was broken up in the bottom of the seventh with a leadoff double.
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Notables
» Mercer improves to 10-5 all-time against the Catamounts, including 3-2 in Cullowhee, N.C.
» The Bears earned their 30th win of the season for the first time since 2015 and the eighth time in program history.
» Emma Andrew reached base for the ninth consecutive game in game one, setting a new career high for the senior shortstop. The streak ended as Andrew finished 0-2 in game two.
» With the loss, Mercer falls to one game behind UNCG for the top slot in the Southern Conference standings.
» Meghan Rud appeared at the plate five times today and now needs nine at bats to become the all-time leader in Mercer history.
» Laurenne Sanchez had a strong day for the Bears, finishing 2-2 at the plate in game one and reaching base safely in all four appearances as she drew two walks. Sanchez then finished 1-3 in game two with one of Mercer's two hits.
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Record Update
» Mercer: 30-15, 9-3
» Western Carolina: 15-32, 2-12
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Up Next
Mercer will meet Western Carolina in the rubber match tomorrow at 1 p.m. at the Catamount Softball Complex. The Bears will then return home for a three-game series against Furman to conclude the regular season.
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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 One: Mercer 7, Western Carolina 1
Mercer was the first to jump on the board, scoring one run in the second inning. The Bears had a chance to score in the first with runners on first and second with nobody out, failing to take the go-ahead run. However, in the second inning with runners on the corners and one down, Micayla Rood plated the first tally with an RBI ground out to short to bring home Emma Andrew.
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The very next inning proved to be a monster inning for the Bears after loading the bases with nobody on and the power bat at the plate in the form of Caroline Taylor. The redshirt senior unloaded on a ball to deep left field and all the fans could do was watch it sail away for the grand slam, her 11th long ball of the season, as Mercer took the 5-0 lead.
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Mercer added two more insurance runs in the fifth inning thanks to Allie Jones' pitch-hit single to left center, bringing home Laurenne Sanchez and Catie Josselet for the 7-0 advantage.
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The Western Carolina bats had been stymied all game until Gibbons led off the seventh inning with a double, breaking up Megan Bilgri's no-hitter. Gibbons later scored in the inning off a fielding error by Megan Lane, taking the shutout away from Bilgri.
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The Illinois senior pitched a gem for Mercer, hurling seven complete innings with one hit and one unearned run. Bilgri also struck out five batters, while walking two, running her record to 9-6 on the season.
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Pitchers of Record
» Win: Megan Bilgri (9-6)
» Loss: Haley Brogden (5-8)
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Game Two: Western Carolina 9, Mercer 1
Just like in game one, the Bears jumped on the board first, this time in the top of the first inning. After a two-out walk by Megan Lane, Taylor plated her fifth RBI of the day with a single to center field, allowing Lane to come all the way around from first for the 1-0 advantage.
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The Catamounts seized momentum in the bottom of the first inning after a controversial call at short allowed Western Carolina to load the bases with one out. Two batters later, Shaina Reed unloaded the bases with a grand slam to right center for the 4-1 lead.
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Mercer tried to cut into the deficit in the third inning with two runners on and nobody out. However, a strike out, fly out and then a put out at home disabled the Bears from plating a run. Sanchez's single in the third inning would be the last hit of the game for Mercer.
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The Catamounts put the game away in the fourth and fifth inning, scoring a combined five runs on six hits, including three homers. Western Carolina capped the game off with a two-run double from Reed in the bottom of the fifth inning to activate the run rule.
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Pitchers of Record
» Win: Kinsey Liscio (5-8)
» Loss: Jill McElderry (9-3)
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Stat of the Day
The Catamount Softball Complex proved to be a launching pad today as both teams combined for five home runs. Mercer cranked out one off the bat of Taylor, while Western Carolina hit all four of its homers in the second game.
Â
Player of the Day
Megan Bilgri was today's Player of the Day for Mercer, dominating the entirety of game one. The senior righty had a no-hitter going through the first six innings of play before that was broken up in the bottom of the seventh with a leadoff double.
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Notables
» Mercer improves to 10-5 all-time against the Catamounts, including 3-2 in Cullowhee, N.C.
» The Bears earned their 30th win of the season for the first time since 2015 and the eighth time in program history.
» Emma Andrew reached base for the ninth consecutive game in game one, setting a new career high for the senior shortstop. The streak ended as Andrew finished 0-2 in game two.
» With the loss, Mercer falls to one game behind UNCG for the top slot in the Southern Conference standings.
» Meghan Rud appeared at the plate five times today and now needs nine at bats to become the all-time leader in Mercer history.
» Laurenne Sanchez had a strong day for the Bears, finishing 2-2 at the plate in game one and reaching base safely in all four appearances as she drew two walks. Sanchez then finished 1-3 in game two with one of Mercer's two hits.
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Record Update
» Mercer: 30-15, 9-3
» Western Carolina: 15-32, 2-12
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Up Next
Mercer will meet Western Carolina in the rubber match tomorrow at 1 p.m. at the Catamount Softball Complex. The Bears will then return home for a three-game series against Furman to conclude the regular season.
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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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