Bears End On High Note; Take Two From UNF
5/8/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball
MACON, Ga. – On a day full of headlines for the Mercer Bears softball team, the one that stole the show was a senior's clutch performance in the bottom of the ninth in her final game at Sikes Field.
On Breast Cancer Awareness Night, senior outfielder Stacey Condra created an unforgettable memory on Friday by single handedly helping propel the Bears(25-30, 7-13 A-Sun) to a doubleheader sweep against the University of North Florida. Condra, was one of three Bear seniors finishing out their collegiate careers and with three total RBIs led the Bears to wins of 4-0 and 2-1.
In her final at bat, with a runner on second and two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Condra took a 2-2 pitch to left field and closed out the Bears 2010 regular season on a high note. The line drive was bobbled by Ospreys leftfielder Stephany Hall which allowed the speedy junior Anna Johnson to score the game winning run from first. Condra went 2-for-6 and set her season high total for RBIs on the day.
“Tonight was a great sign of character for our players,” head coach Mike Raynor said. “They could have given up andgiven in, but they didn't and that shows a lot of growth and I am excited for the future.”
Alongside Condra were seniors Brandy Keeter and Holly Oglesbee who were playing for the last time in the Orange and Black. Oglesbee, who was named to the CoSIDA ESPN Academic All-District III team on Thursday, went 3-for-7 on the day and kept her 2010 batting average above the .300 mark for the third consecutive season.
Mercer's Jenni Holtz also received recognition on Friday for a season of records for the junior pitcher. Holtz was honored between games for overtaking the all-time strikeout mark from Katie Rosentreter on March 27 of this year. She also set the single season strikeout record with 332 total K's in 2010.
Holtz threw her second consecutive complete game shutout in as many appearances on Friday and pushed her career strikeout total to 788 by retiring seven batters. She gave up just two hits against the Ospreys in game one and made a relief appearance in game two throwing the game's final 6 1/3 innings.
Holtz did not give up a run in 13 innings and received the win in game two as well. With the two wins, Holtz finished the year 17-17 in 39 appearances for the Bears.
“I really tip my hat to the way they played tonight,” Raynor said. “To finish the season on a high note shows that we really have learned a lot from this season.”
