Wednesday, May 9
Greensboro, N.C.
12:30 P.M.
Mercer University
33-17
8
vs
7
#7 Western Carolina
15-36
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Western Carolina
0
2
0
4
0
1
0
7
9
1
Mercer
0
0
1
0
2
5
X
8
11
1
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Preston, Stella (12-4)
L: Brogden (5-9)
Batting:
2B: E. Hayes 1
HR: Reed 1 ; Daniels 1
RBI: E. Hayes 2 ; Reed 2 ; Daniels 2
SH: Reed 1 ; Chapman 1 ; Pate 1
Base Running:
RUNS: E. Hayes 1 ; Long 1 ; Reed 1 ; Gibbons 1 ; Daniels 2 ; Chapman 1
SB: Reed 1
HBP: Reed 1 ; Armstrong 1
Batting:
HR: Taylor, Caroline 1
RBI: Lane, Megan 1 ; Taylor, Caroline 4 ; Andrew, Emma 2
SH: Sanchez, Laurenne 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Rud, Meghan 2 ; Sanchez, Laurenne 1 ; Lane, Megan 2 ; Taylor, Caroline 2 ; Warren, Shaila 1
HBP: Jones, Allie 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
3
R
2
H
3
RBI
0
AB
3
R
2
H
2
RBI
1
AB
2
R
2
H
2
RBI
4
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
INF
/ SoftballC/OF
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball1B
/ Softball
Photo by: SoCon Photos
Bears Rally in the Opening Round of SoCon Tournament
5/9/2018 4:29:00 PM | Softball
Mercer plates five in the sixth to rally ahead of Catamounts
GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Mercer softball team proved to be a tough out for Western Carolina in the opening round of the 2018 Southern Conference Tournament, coming from behind to win 8-7. The Bears rallied for five runs in the sixth inning to cap off the largest SoCon Tournament come-from-behind win in program history.
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Mercer 8, Western Carolina 7
The Catamounts jumped on the board early, taking control of the game following Daniels' two-run blast to right center for the early 2-0 advantage.
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The Bears cut into the deficit in the bottom of the third inning, loading the bases with just one away. After Quirisa Mauga struck out on a questionable third strike, senior shortstop Emma Andrew drew the bases-loaded walk to trim the Western Carolina lead in half.
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Western Carolina exploded in the fourth inning, scoring four runs on four hits and one Mercer error. All four of the Catamounts' runs came with two away and were tagged to relief pitcher, Stella Preston. The Catamounts capped off the inning with a two-run homer by Reed to take the 6-1 lead.
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The Bears would not go away quietly, cutting the deficit to just three in the bottom of the fifth inning following a two-run dinger by Caroline Taylor, her 14th of the season.
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Western Carolina stretched its lead back to four in the top of the sixth inning after Hayes reached on a single to center field, plating Chapman from second for the 7-3 lead. The Catamounts would eventually load the bases, however Preston would slam the door shut on any further damage.
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With just six outs left to work with, the Bears' bats came to life in the sixth inning. With the bases juiced and one away, Mercer received its first lift from the bat of Megan Lane with a bloop single over second base, bringing home Warren for the 7-4 score. Taylor, with a homer in her belt already, unloaded on a high fly ball to left center. Western Carolina's Hunter Gibbons made a diving effort, but to no avail as the ball dropped in for a loud two-run single. Following a wild pitch, Mauga drove in the game-tying run with an infield single off the handle of the bat and proceeded to second following the throwing error by Brogden. The Bears still had runners on second and third with one away and the Catamounts opted to pitch to Andrew. The Florida senior made Western Carolina pay with an RBI single through the left side of the infield to complete the improbable five-run inning, catapulting Mercer ahead of Western Carolina for the first time in the contest.
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Preston rode the momentum through the top of the seventh, registering a 1-2-3 inning with two strikeouts to push the Bears into the winner's bracket. The sophomore righty improved to 12-4 on the season, pitching four innings of work and allowing two earned runs, while striking out four batters.
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Pitchers of Record
» Win: Stella Preston (12-4)
» Loss: Haley Brodgen (5-9)
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Stat of the Day
Mercer completed the come-from-behind victory, scoring seven runs on seven hits in the fifth and sixth inning combined. This is the largest come-from-behind win for the Bears in the Southern Conference tournament.
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Player of the Day
Caroline Taylor finished the day 2-for-2 at the dish with two walks drawn. The senior first baseman accounted for four RBIs in the contest with a long blast in the fifth and a two-run single in the sixth inning.
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Notables
» The Bears are 8-6 all-time in the Southern Conference Tournament following today's thrilling triumph.
» Mercer improves to 12-5 against the Catamounts in program history, including 1-0 in postseason play.
» Caroline Taylor notched her 14th homer of the season, tying a personal record for the Georgia native for most long balls in a single season.
» Taylor's four RBIs moved her into first all-time in program history with 155 career runs batted in.
» The Bears have now scored 23 runs against the Catamounts in four games, including eight in today's victory.
» Mercer's seniors combined 7-for-12 at the plate with four runs scored and six runs batted in.
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Record Update
» Mercer: 33-17
» Western Carolina: 15-36
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Up Next
Mercer will square off with No. 6 seeded ETSU tomorrow at 3 p.m. at the UNCG Softball Stadium. The Bucs defeated No. 3 seed Furman by the final score of 4-1 in the opening round of the SoCon Tournament.
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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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Mercer 8, Western Carolina 7
The Catamounts jumped on the board early, taking control of the game following Daniels' two-run blast to right center for the early 2-0 advantage.
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The Bears cut into the deficit in the bottom of the third inning, loading the bases with just one away. After Quirisa Mauga struck out on a questionable third strike, senior shortstop Emma Andrew drew the bases-loaded walk to trim the Western Carolina lead in half.
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Western Carolina exploded in the fourth inning, scoring four runs on four hits and one Mercer error. All four of the Catamounts' runs came with two away and were tagged to relief pitcher, Stella Preston. The Catamounts capped off the inning with a two-run homer by Reed to take the 6-1 lead.
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The Bears would not go away quietly, cutting the deficit to just three in the bottom of the fifth inning following a two-run dinger by Caroline Taylor, her 14th of the season.
Â
Western Carolina stretched its lead back to four in the top of the sixth inning after Hayes reached on a single to center field, plating Chapman from second for the 7-3 lead. The Catamounts would eventually load the bases, however Preston would slam the door shut on any further damage.
Â
With just six outs left to work with, the Bears' bats came to life in the sixth inning. With the bases juiced and one away, Mercer received its first lift from the bat of Megan Lane with a bloop single over second base, bringing home Warren for the 7-4 score. Taylor, with a homer in her belt already, unloaded on a high fly ball to left center. Western Carolina's Hunter Gibbons made a diving effort, but to no avail as the ball dropped in for a loud two-run single. Following a wild pitch, Mauga drove in the game-tying run with an infield single off the handle of the bat and proceeded to second following the throwing error by Brogden. The Bears still had runners on second and third with one away and the Catamounts opted to pitch to Andrew. The Florida senior made Western Carolina pay with an RBI single through the left side of the infield to complete the improbable five-run inning, catapulting Mercer ahead of Western Carolina for the first time in the contest.
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Preston rode the momentum through the top of the seventh, registering a 1-2-3 inning with two strikeouts to push the Bears into the winner's bracket. The sophomore righty improved to 12-4 on the season, pitching four innings of work and allowing two earned runs, while striking out four batters.
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Pitchers of Record
» Win: Stella Preston (12-4)
» Loss: Haley Brodgen (5-9)
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Stat of the Day
Mercer completed the come-from-behind victory, scoring seven runs on seven hits in the fifth and sixth inning combined. This is the largest come-from-behind win for the Bears in the Southern Conference tournament.
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Player of the Day
Caroline Taylor finished the day 2-for-2 at the dish with two walks drawn. The senior first baseman accounted for four RBIs in the contest with a long blast in the fifth and a two-run single in the sixth inning.
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Notables
» The Bears are 8-6 all-time in the Southern Conference Tournament following today's thrilling triumph.
» Mercer improves to 12-5 against the Catamounts in program history, including 1-0 in postseason play.
» Caroline Taylor notched her 14th homer of the season, tying a personal record for the Georgia native for most long balls in a single season.
» Taylor's four RBIs moved her into first all-time in program history with 155 career runs batted in.
» The Bears have now scored 23 runs against the Catamounts in four games, including eight in today's victory.
» Mercer's seniors combined 7-for-12 at the plate with four runs scored and six runs batted in.
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Record Update
» Mercer: 33-17
» Western Carolina: 15-36
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Up Next
Mercer will square off with No. 6 seeded ETSU tomorrow at 3 p.m. at the UNCG Softball Stadium. The Bucs defeated No. 3 seed Furman by the final score of 4-1 in the opening round of the SoCon Tournament.
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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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