Mercer University
Radford
Bears Repeat Split At Georgia Southern Tourney
2/13/2011 12:00:00 AM | Softball
STATESBORO, Ga. – Day two of the Spring Hill Suites was eerily similar to day one for the Mercer Bears as the team split the doubleheader defeating Radford, 4-3 and losing to host Georgia Southern, 3-2 on Sunday.
All three teams in the tournament come out at 2-2 on the season as MU swept Radford, Radford took both games against Georgia Southern and the Eagles beat Mercer twice.
"I think we played well throughout the tournament," head coach Mike Raynor said. "We played hard and beat a very good team twice and performed well against the other in very close games."
Mercer(2-2, 0-0 A-Sun) again got out on top of Radford early for the second day in a row. Senior second baseman Amanda Santa Maria has a hit in every game thus far and in the second inning driving in junior Sara Stukes on an RBI double to center giving the Bears the 1-0 lead.
In the bottom of the third the Bears added two more runs on a pair of RBI hits from junior Kristen Marko and Stukes. Marko doubled to left center scoring freshman McKenzie Woody from second. On the very next at bat Stukes drove in sophomore Heather Strange who was pinch running for Marko.
From there the Bears rode a very solid outing from senior pitcher Jenni Holtz. Holtz who lasted just 1.1 innings on opening day, rebounded and looked like her dominant self through six innings of scoreless softball.
Up by three in the top of the seventh with two outs Holtz gave up a game-tying home run to Big South Preseason Player of the Year Kristen Shifflett. Not fazed by the home run, Holtz quickly struck out the Highlanders next batter to get out of the inning.
In the bottom half of the seventh, the Bears scored the go-ahead by putting pressure on the base pads. With two outs, senior outfielder Anna Johnson reached on an error and then promptly stole second. On the Highlanders attempt to pick her off the throw went awry and Johnson scored the game-winning run.
Against Georgia Southern in game two, Mercer fell behind early once again and for the second day in a row couldn't overcome the deficit. Senior pitcher Kari Chambers gave up two runs in the bottom of the second, but kept the Bears in the game with her five strikeouts.
However, in the bottom of the sixth Chambers was tagged for what turned out to be the game-winning home run to Hanna Ennis. Mercer went three up three down in the top of the seventh and was limited to just three hits against the Eagles.
Mercer heads to Charleston, SC next weekend for a tournament at Charleston Southern. On the docket includes games against the ACC's Virginia Tech, Ohio and host Charleston Southern.
