Friday, May 11
Greensboro, N.C.
10 A.M.
Mercer University
33-19
6
vs
10
#5 Samford
19-37
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Samford
2
0
2
0
4
2
0
10
10
2
Mercer
0
0
1
1
2
2
0
6
8
1
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Taylor DeCelles (9-12)
L: Bilgri, Megan (10-10)
Batting:
2B: Hannah Trombley 1 ; Mekhi Mayfield 1 ; Whitney Hinton 1
HR: Lexie Higgins 1
RBI: Lexie Higgins 2 ; Ryan Brzozoski 2 ; Hannah Trombley 2 ; Mekhi Mayfield 2 ; Whitney Hinton 1 ; Kelsey Royalty 1
SH: Madison Couch 1
SF: Ryan Brzozoski 1 ; Whitney Hinton 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Ashlyn Barnes 3 ; Lexie Higgins 3 ; Madison Couch 1 ; Ryan Brzozoski 1 ; Hannah Trombley 1 ; Mekhi Mayfield 1
SB: Ashlyn Barnes 1 ; Kelsey Royalty 2
HBP: Lexie Higgins 1
Batting:
2B: Andrew, Emma 1
HR: Rud, Meghan 1 ; Taylor, Caroline 1
RBI: Rud, Meghan 2 ; Taylor, Caroline 1 ; Andrew, Emma 1
SH: Lane, Megan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Rud, Meghan 1 ; Taylor, Caroline 1 ; Mauga, Quirisa 1 ; Andrew, Emma 1 ; Rood, Micayla 1 ; Warren, Shaila 1
SB: Sanchez, Laurenne 1 ; Lane, Megan 1 ; Warren, Shaila 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
2
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
INF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball1B
/ Softball
Taylor Breaks Mercer Home Run Record in Elimination Game
5/11/2018 2:06:00 PM | Softball
Mercer dropped a 10-6 decision in the consolation bracket to Samford
GREENSBORO, N.C. – Just over 12 hours removed from last night's contest, the Mercer Bears dropped a tough 10-6 decision to the Samford Bulldogs in the consolation bracket. In a slugfest battle that saw a combined 16 runs on 18 hits, it was Mercer who ended its season, dropping to 33-19 to conclude the campaign. Senior first baseman Caroline Taylor put her stamp on the record books, becoming Mercer's all-time leader in career homers (47) and single-season dingers (16) with a solo shot in the fifth.
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Samford 10, Mercer 6
For the sixth consecutive outing, the Bears fell behind early as the Bulldogs launched a two-run shot off the bat of Higgins to left field. Samford doubled its lead in the top of the third inning thanks to an RBI single by Brzozoski and an RBI ground out from Trombley for the 4-0 lead.
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The Bears broke through the scoreboard in the bottom of the third inning with runners on the corners and two away. Mercer perfected the double steal, sending Sanchez to second and Warren to the plate on a delayed steal to trim the Samford lead to 4-1.
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Mercer edged closer to the Bulldogs in a wild fourth inning that began with an Emma Andrew walk. The senior shortstop later crossed the plate after a booted ball at second off the bat of Micayla Rood.
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Just when the Bears were gaining momentum, the Bulldogs pulled away after plating four runs on three hits and one Mercer error in the top of the fifth. Samford's key at bat came from Mayfield with a double down the left field line to jump start the scoring in the inning for the Bulldogs.
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Mercer received a lift from Taylor in the bottom of the fifth, launching a record-breaking solo shot well over the right center fence. Taylor's solo blast marked her 47th of her stellar career and her 16th of the season, both of which are program records. The Bears scored another run in the later parts of the inning following Andrew's RBI double to left field, bringing home Mauga across the plate for the 8-4 deficit.
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The two squads traded a pair of runs in the sixth inning with Samford's runs coming off a sacrifice fly and then a double on the next at bat. Mercer's two runs in the bottom of the sixth frame came off the bat of the leadoff hitter, Meghan Rud. The senior outfielder proved that power comes in all sizes, lacing a two-run shot over the center field fence, just the fourth homer of her career and second to travel over the fences. Rud's home run was the second of the season, the first being an inside-the-park deliverance against Fort Wayne on March 9 at Kennesaw, Ga.
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Pitchers of Record
» Win: Taylor DeCelles (9-12)
» Loss: Megan Bilgri (10-10)
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Stat of the Day
The Bears and Bulldogs combined for 16 runs in the game, marking the largest offensive production of the SoCon Tournament since Samford defeated Chattanooga (9-8) in last season's tournament.
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Player of the Day
Meghan Rud earned player of the game honors after finishing 2-for-3 at the plate with a two-run blast in the sixth inning.
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Notables
» The Bears are now 8-8 all-time in the league tournament after finishing 1-2 this season.
» Caroline Taylor notched a program-record 16th homer of the season, setting a new single-season mark for long balls. Taylor's home run also marked the 47th of her career, setting a new program record for homers in a career.
» Rud belted her second long ball of the season today, marking her first multi-home run season of her standout career.
» The Bears finished the year with 45 homers, ranking third most in a single season in program history.
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Record Update
» Mercer: 33-19
» Samford: 19-37
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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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Samford 10, Mercer 6
For the sixth consecutive outing, the Bears fell behind early as the Bulldogs launched a two-run shot off the bat of Higgins to left field. Samford doubled its lead in the top of the third inning thanks to an RBI single by Brzozoski and an RBI ground out from Trombley for the 4-0 lead.
Â
The Bears broke through the scoreboard in the bottom of the third inning with runners on the corners and two away. Mercer perfected the double steal, sending Sanchez to second and Warren to the plate on a delayed steal to trim the Samford lead to 4-1.
Â
Mercer edged closer to the Bulldogs in a wild fourth inning that began with an Emma Andrew walk. The senior shortstop later crossed the plate after a booted ball at second off the bat of Micayla Rood.
Â
Just when the Bears were gaining momentum, the Bulldogs pulled away after plating four runs on three hits and one Mercer error in the top of the fifth. Samford's key at bat came from Mayfield with a double down the left field line to jump start the scoring in the inning for the Bulldogs.
Â
Mercer received a lift from Taylor in the bottom of the fifth, launching a record-breaking solo shot well over the right center fence. Taylor's solo blast marked her 47th of her stellar career and her 16th of the season, both of which are program records. The Bears scored another run in the later parts of the inning following Andrew's RBI double to left field, bringing home Mauga across the plate for the 8-4 deficit.
Â
The two squads traded a pair of runs in the sixth inning with Samford's runs coming off a sacrifice fly and then a double on the next at bat. Mercer's two runs in the bottom of the sixth frame came off the bat of the leadoff hitter, Meghan Rud. The senior outfielder proved that power comes in all sizes, lacing a two-run shot over the center field fence, just the fourth homer of her career and second to travel over the fences. Rud's home run was the second of the season, the first being an inside-the-park deliverance against Fort Wayne on March 9 at Kennesaw, Ga.
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Pitchers of Record
» Win: Taylor DeCelles (9-12)
» Loss: Megan Bilgri (10-10)
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Stat of the Day
The Bears and Bulldogs combined for 16 runs in the game, marking the largest offensive production of the SoCon Tournament since Samford defeated Chattanooga (9-8) in last season's tournament.
Â
Player of the Day
Meghan Rud earned player of the game honors after finishing 2-for-3 at the plate with a two-run blast in the sixth inning.
Â
Notables
» The Bears are now 8-8 all-time in the league tournament after finishing 1-2 this season.
» Caroline Taylor notched a program-record 16th homer of the season, setting a new single-season mark for long balls. Taylor's home run also marked the 47th of her career, setting a new program record for homers in a career.
» Rud belted her second long ball of the season today, marking her first multi-home run season of her standout career.
» The Bears finished the year with 45 homers, ranking third most in a single season in program history.
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Record Update
» Mercer: 33-19
» Samford: 19-37
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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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