Mercer University
Florida St.
Holtz Tops 900; Bears Drop Two at FSU
4/12/2011 12:00:00 AM | Softball
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Mercer softball senior pitcher Jenni Holtz put another notch in her historic career on Tuesday night as the Bears dropped a non-conference doubleheader at Florida St. by scores of 5-4 and 3-0.
Holtz, who holds team records in just about every major statistical category, became the first player in program history to reach 900 strikeouts for her career. She is also just the third player in Atlantic Sun Conference history to reach the milestone.
As Holtz continued her storied career, the team also looked poised to take down their second team from a power conference in as many weeks on Tuesday evening. Instead, MU gave up a three-run lead and allowed a walkoff double in the bottom of the seventh to lose game one, 5-4. In game two, the Bears were unable to plate a run and were shutout, 3-0 in the nightcap.
Game one saw junior Stephanie Canara start just her third game of the season in left field and gave the Bears a quick offensive boost in the top of the lineup by doubling down the left field line in her first at bat. After a single by fellow junior Kassie Bailey, Mercer had runners on the corners with just one out in the top of the first. Bailey led the Bears at the plate on Tuesday going 3-for-6 in two games.
The Bears next batter, junior Sara Stukes laid down a well-placed bunt that drove in Canara from third for her team-leading 32 RBI of the season. Stukes went 2-for-4 in game one and the Bears seemingly had numbers in their favor as they had been 20-2 in game in which the scored first coming into Tuesday's doubleheader.
After a Seminole passed ball, Mercer again had runners in scoring position at second and third. The Bears pushed a second run across in the inning when senior Amanda Santa Maria laid down a bunt that scored sophomore Heather Strange on a close play at the plate.
In the bottom of the second is when Holtz added to her laundry list of accomplishments by striking out FSU's catcher Celeste Gomez for her 900th overall
However, Holtz got herself into trouble as she put the Seminoles leadoff batter on in each of the first four innings. FSU was able to get a run back in the bottom of the third when Holtz hit FSU's leadoff batter Tiffani Brown. Brown came around to score on an RBI double Shayla Jackson and the Bears' lead was 2-1 at the end of three.
Mercer got two more runs across in the top of the fourth by twice stealing home. Freshman Randi Rea out ran the outstretched arms of FSU's third baseman Briana Hamilton after she enticed a throw on the double steal and then missed Hamilton's tag in a run down play at third.
Two batters later the Bears again successfully pulled the double steal that allowed Anna Johnson to take home for the 4-1 lead.
Then in the bottom of the fourth FSU's Briana Hamilton tied the game up with one swing of the bat. With runners on first and second, Hamilton took Holtz's pitch deep to right center field for a three-run home run that tied the game at four heading into the top of the fifth.
The Bears threatened to retake the lead in the top of the seventh and had runners on second and third, but were unable to drive in the go-ahead run. The Seminoles made the Bears pay and scored a run from first on Shayla Jackson's second RBI double of the game. Holtz went 6.1 innings, giving up seven hits and the five earned runs.
In game two, the Seminoles put runs up in the second, third and sixth innings and stranded seven Mercer base runners in the process.
FSU's senior pitcher Sarah Hamilton had a no-hitter going into the top of the fourth before Stukes lined a single to left field. Hamilton allowed just one more hit in the game and secured her 13th win of the season.
Mercer senior pitcher Kari Chambers had a solid outing in game two allowing just two earned runs on five hits.
The Bears resume A-Sun play this Friday as ETSU heads to Sikes Field for a 4 p.m. first pitch. Friday's doubleheader leads into Saturday's matchup against USC Upstate. Saturday will serve as the Bears' senior day honoring six outstanding players in Mercer history. Game time is scheduled for 2 p.m.
