Mercer University
Samford
Rea's Walk Off Secures Sweep of Samford
3/10/2011 12:00:00 AM | Softball
MACON, Ga. – Trailing 6-5 in game two of Thursday's doubleheader, freshman third baseman Randi Rea hit a three-run walk-off homerun in the bottom of the eighth to give the Mercer softball team the sweep of Samford at Sikes Field.
The walk-off was Rea's second home run of the day and the fourth overall by the Bears' offense. Mercer won the games 9-0 (5 innings) and 8-6 (8 innings). All told, Mercer (16-8, 0-0 A-Sun) scored 17 runs on 21 hits against the Bulldogs (3-15, 0-0 A-Sun) and it was the team's third consecutive win against the Southern Conference in the last two days. Yesterday, the Bears downed Georgia Southern, 6-1 before rain cancelled game two.
After run-ruling the Bulldogs in game one, game two was a see-saw battle with seven lead changes in the game. Down 5-4 heading into the bottom of the seventh, Krista Kennedy led off the inning representing the tying run. Kennedy drew a walk and then advanced to third after two well-placed groundouts.
After a Sarah Santana walk, senior Anna Johnson slapped a single through the infield and scored Kennedy from third to push the Bears to their first extra-inning game of the season.
Mercer gave up a run in the top of the eighth, but had the top of the lineup coming up in their half of the inning. Sara Stukes, who had a home run in game one, led off the eighth with a single and ended up on second on the throw. With freshman McKenzie Woody already occupying second, the Bears had tying run on third and the winning run on second.
Rea then stepped up to bat and took Samford's Robyn Harmon's offering over the right center fence for the walk-off home run. Rea now leads the team with six home runs and had a team-high six RBI on Thursday.
In game one, all nine of the Bears runs were scored off three home runs. Juniors Kristin Marko, Stukes and Rea all tallied home runs in the first game. Stukes started things off in the bottom of the first when she tagged a two-run shot over the left field fence.
Then in the second with the bases loaded, Mercer head coach Mike Raynor made a strategic move to bring in Marko to pinch hit. Marko fouled several pitches off then made good on Raynor's lineup fix and hit the Bears' second grand slam of the season. At the end of the two, Mercer held a 6-0 advantage.
In the fourth, Rea had her first of the day, also a three-run shot to give the Orange and Black the nine runs.
Among all the offense there was some solid pitching as well. Senior Kari Chambers continued her recent success and threw four scoreless innings to get the win in game one. She is now 6-1 in her last eight starts and has given up just three earned runs in that span.
The Bears have the weekend off before hosting Florida A&M at Sikes Field next Tuesday. The doubleheader is scheduled for first pitch at 4 p.m.
