Sunday, April 8
Greensboro, NC
1 P.M.
Mercer University
25-12, 0
0
at
7
UNCG
30-7, 0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Mercer
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
1
UNCG
0
0
0
0
4
3
X
7
6
0
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Preston, Stella (8-3)
L: Bazonski (13-3)
Batting:
2B: Lane, Megan 1
HR: Lane, Megan 1
RBI: Sanchez, Laurenne 1 ; Lane, Megan 2
SH: Taylor, Caroline 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Rud, Meghan 1 ; Sanchez, Laurenne 1 ; Lane, Megan 1
SB: Rud, Meghan 2 ; Mauga, Quirisa 1
Batting:
2B: Cubbage 1
SH: Matthijs 1
Base Running:
HBP: Cubbage 1 ; McClaskey 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
2
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
AB
2
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
P
/ SoftballC/OF
/ Softball
P
/ SoftballOF
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball1B
/ Softball
Photo by: Judy Stapleton
Bears Split Sunday Doubleheader in Greensboro
4/8/2018 6:40:00 PM | Softball
Mercer and UNCG split the two-game series, remaining tied atop the SoCon leaderboard
GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Bears entered Sunday's doubleheader tied atop the Southern Conference standings with UNCG and left Greensboro still knotted with the Spartans as the two squads split the two-game series. Mercer dropped game one by the final score of 7-0, later rebounding for a 3-0 victory of its own. Following the split, Mercer improved to 26-12, including 7-1 in conference play, while the Spartans improved to 30-8 and 7-1 in SoCon action.
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Game 1: UNCG 7, Mercer 0
Both squads were neck and neck through the first four innings of work with Mercer holding a slight 3-1 advantage in hits. Neither squad was able to plate the go-ahead run through four as the two competitors combined to leave three runners stranded.
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The Spartans finally broke through in the bottom of the fifth inning, scoring four runs on two hits and one Mercer error. After a one-out walk, Rachael McClaskey reached on a fielding error by Caroline Taylor, putting runners at the corners with one away. UNCG took the lead on the next at bat after Rebecca Kale laid down the sacrifice bunt to bring home Gabrielle Cubbage. The Spartans added three insurance runs in the inning after singles from Kayleigh Willis and Jasmine Palmer, taking the 4-0 lead.
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UNCG added three more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning off two hits and one Mercer error. Two of the Spartans' three runs came off the bat of Makenna Matthijs with a double down the right field line.
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Mercer was unable to cross the plate in game one, finishing with three hits after going hitless in the final three innings of the game. Megan Bilgri surrendered five hits in the game and yielded seven runs, three of which were earned. Bilgri punched out three batters, while falling to 8-6 on the season.
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Pitchers of Record
» Win: Alicia Bazonski (13-2)
» Loss: Megan Bilgri (8-6)
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Game 2: Mercer 3, UNCG 0
The Bears wasted no time in scoring in game two of Sunday's doubleheader thanks to Megan Lane's eighth homer of the season. Meghan Rud led the game off with a single to first base but was later out at second following a fielder's choice that put Laurenne Sanchez on first. Lane stepped up batting third and piped an opposite field, two-run shot to give Mercer the 2-0 early advantage.
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Neither team threatened to score over the next three innings, combining for three hits and four runners left on base. The Spartans nearly broke through in the bottom of the fifth inning as Kale and Overdiep reached base in the first two at bats. However, Stella Preston slammed the door shut after recording three consecutive outs, including punching out Sholtes to conclude the inning.
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After Mercer missed an opportunity to extend its lead in the sixth, the Bears capitalized on their next chance in the top of the seventh inning. Rud singled through the left side of the infield with two away and later advanced to third following a stolen base and throwing error. Sanchez seized the golden opportunity, bringing home Rud with a single to left field for the 3-0 lead.
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Stella Preston earned the win for Mercer, throwing her sixth complete game of the season. Preston pitched seven shutout innings, allowing just three hits and punching out three batters. The sophomore pitcher also stranded eight runners on base while improving to 8-3, dropping her season ERA to 1.99.
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Pitchers of Record
» Win: Stella Preston (8-3)
» Loss: Alicia Bazonski (13-3)
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Stat of the Day
The two squads combined for nine hits and 10 total runs in Sunday's doubleheader. However, it was Mercer who registered the only long ball of the day via Megan Lane.
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Player of the Day
Megan Lane finished 3-for-7 on the day, picking up one of Mercer's three hits in game one. Lane then finished 2-for-4 at the dish in game two, including a two-run homer in the top of the first inning which proved to be the game-winning at bat.
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Notables
» Mercer is 7-7 all-time against the Spartans of UNCG following Sunday's split, including 2-4 at UNCG Softball Stadium.
» Megan Lane runs her hitting streak and consecutive games reaching base streak to five games following hits in each of Mercer's two games.
» With just three conference series remaining, the Bears are tied atop the SoCon standings with UNCG.
» The Bears snapped UNCG's 15-game winning streak following the 3-0 victory on Sunday afternoon.
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Record Update
» Mercer: 26-12, 7-1
» UNCG: 30-8, 7-1
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Up Next
Mercer will take a week off from Southern Conference action with a three-game series at the University of Georgia in Athens, Ga. The Bears and Bulldogs will square off in a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 2 p.m. and then conclude the series on Sunday with a 2 p.m. showdown.
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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: UNCG 7, Mercer 0
Both squads were neck and neck through the first four innings of work with Mercer holding a slight 3-1 advantage in hits. Neither squad was able to plate the go-ahead run through four as the two competitors combined to leave three runners stranded.
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The Spartans finally broke through in the bottom of the fifth inning, scoring four runs on two hits and one Mercer error. After a one-out walk, Rachael McClaskey reached on a fielding error by Caroline Taylor, putting runners at the corners with one away. UNCG took the lead on the next at bat after Rebecca Kale laid down the sacrifice bunt to bring home Gabrielle Cubbage. The Spartans added three insurance runs in the inning after singles from Kayleigh Willis and Jasmine Palmer, taking the 4-0 lead.
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UNCG added three more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning off two hits and one Mercer error. Two of the Spartans' three runs came off the bat of Makenna Matthijs with a double down the right field line.
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Mercer was unable to cross the plate in game one, finishing with three hits after going hitless in the final three innings of the game. Megan Bilgri surrendered five hits in the game and yielded seven runs, three of which were earned. Bilgri punched out three batters, while falling to 8-6 on the season.
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Pitchers of Record
» Win: Alicia Bazonski (13-2)
» Loss: Megan Bilgri (8-6)
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Game 2: Mercer 3, UNCG 0
The Bears wasted no time in scoring in game two of Sunday's doubleheader thanks to Megan Lane's eighth homer of the season. Meghan Rud led the game off with a single to first base but was later out at second following a fielder's choice that put Laurenne Sanchez on first. Lane stepped up batting third and piped an opposite field, two-run shot to give Mercer the 2-0 early advantage.
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Neither team threatened to score over the next three innings, combining for three hits and four runners left on base. The Spartans nearly broke through in the bottom of the fifth inning as Kale and Overdiep reached base in the first two at bats. However, Stella Preston slammed the door shut after recording three consecutive outs, including punching out Sholtes to conclude the inning.
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After Mercer missed an opportunity to extend its lead in the sixth, the Bears capitalized on their next chance in the top of the seventh inning. Rud singled through the left side of the infield with two away and later advanced to third following a stolen base and throwing error. Sanchez seized the golden opportunity, bringing home Rud with a single to left field for the 3-0 lead.
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Stella Preston earned the win for Mercer, throwing her sixth complete game of the season. Preston pitched seven shutout innings, allowing just three hits and punching out three batters. The sophomore pitcher also stranded eight runners on base while improving to 8-3, dropping her season ERA to 1.99.
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Pitchers of Record
» Win: Stella Preston (8-3)
» Loss: Alicia Bazonski (13-3)
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Stat of the Day
The two squads combined for nine hits and 10 total runs in Sunday's doubleheader. However, it was Mercer who registered the only long ball of the day via Megan Lane.
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Player of the Day
Megan Lane finished 3-for-7 on the day, picking up one of Mercer's three hits in game one. Lane then finished 2-for-4 at the dish in game two, including a two-run homer in the top of the first inning which proved to be the game-winning at bat.
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Notables
» Mercer is 7-7 all-time against the Spartans of UNCG following Sunday's split, including 2-4 at UNCG Softball Stadium.
» Megan Lane runs her hitting streak and consecutive games reaching base streak to five games following hits in each of Mercer's two games.
» With just three conference series remaining, the Bears are tied atop the SoCon standings with UNCG.
» The Bears snapped UNCG's 15-game winning streak following the 3-0 victory on Sunday afternoon.
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Record Update
» Mercer: 26-12, 7-1
» UNCG: 30-8, 7-1
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Up Next
Mercer will take a week off from Southern Conference action with a three-game series at the University of Georgia in Athens, Ga. The Bears and Bulldogs will square off in a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 2 p.m. and then conclude the series on Sunday with a 2 p.m. showdown.
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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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