Bears Unaffected by Weather; Win Opening Day
4/28/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Tallahassee, Fla. – The Mercer Bears had to wait an extra
day and faced a different opening day opponent, but their
performance seemed unaffected winning 8-0 in five innings against
Iona College on Saturday at the Sunshine State Classic.
The Bears were scheduled to open the 2010 season against Bowling
Green University yesterday but the game was cancelled due to rain
in Tallahassee. On Saturday the sky was clear and the layover did
not leave any lingering side effects as junior pitcher Jenni Holtz
breezed to her first win and shutout of 2010.
Holtz was impressive in her first outing, going all five innings
giving up just three hits and striking out nine on 64 pitches. Her
teammates followed suit and scored three quick runs in the second
inning after a scoreless first.
Sophomore shortstop Sarah Stukes lined a double to left and
advanced to third on a sophomore Kristen Marko bunt. Stukes then
scored on a wild pitch giving the Bears the early 1-0 lead. Stukes
had a solid opening day performance going 2-for-2 with two
RBI's.
Iona's pitcher, Alyssa Maiese gave up her second unearned
run of the inning on another wild pitch when sophomore Stephanie Canara, who was pitch running for Marko, advanced from third.
Sophomore Megan Rutherford tabbed her first RBI of the season in
the second, scoring junior Amanda Santa Maria on an infield hit.
The Bears had a command of the game after the second inning adding
a fourth run in the third.
Iona went three up and three down in both the fourth and fifth
innings and the Bears would close out the game in the fifth
unloading four runs in the bottom half of the inning.
-www.mercerbears.com-
2010 Sunshine State Classic Revised Schedule
Saturday
9:30 a.m. - Iona vs. Mercer - W, 8-0 (5)
11:45 a.m. - Bowling Green vs. Florida State
2 p.m. - Iona vs. Florida State
4:15 p.m. - Mercer vs. Southern Miss
6:30 p.m. Southern Miss vs. Bowling Green
Sunday
9 a.m. Iona vs. Bowling Green
11:15 a.m. Southern Miss vs. Mercer
1:30 pm Florida State vs. Mercer
3:45 p.m. Florida State vs. Bowling Green
