Mercer University
Alabama St.
Garmany Goes Yard as Bears Split on Saturday
2/9/2013 12:00:00 AM | Softball
MACON, Ga. – Day two of the Mercer Invitational saw the Mercer softball team split a pair of games against Alabama State and IUPUI on Saturday. Mercer took game one 3-2 over Alabama State but allowed seven runs in the final two innings against IUPUI to lose game two.
Mercer (3-1) appeared in the two early games on Saturday and were able to take an early rest to prepare for the final two games tomorrow. Mercer faces off against IUPUI again at noon tomorrow and then plays the Hornets in the tournament finale at 2 p.m.
GAME ONE:
Mercer rode a strong outing from senior pitcher Kerri Nidiffer en route to a 3-2 win over Alabama State. Nidiffer, who was making her first appearance on the new season, looked strong allowing just eight hits and two runs in her first complete game of the season.
The Bears jumped out to an early lead in the bottom of the first as sophomore Molly Garmany continued her hotstreak to start the season. Garmany laced a two-out double down the left field line that scored senior Sarah Santana from first. The RBI was Garmany's fifth on the year.
The Lady Hornets took the lead in the top of the fourth before Garmany could strike again. In the bottom half of the inning, Garmany tied the game back up with her second home run in as many days. As the leadoff batter she blasted a ball off the Sikes Field scoreboard.
The game would remain tied heading into the Bears half of the sixth. That was when some key hits led to the Bears final run. Junior Krista Kennedy led off the inning beating out a throw at first for a single and she would later come around to score the game-winning run. Junior McKenzie Woody drew a walk to bring home Kennedy and the game would end in the 3-2 result.
GAME TWO:
The Bears ended up being their own worst enemy in game two as four errors led to 10 IUPUI runs and the Jaguars walked away with the win.
The loss was the first for the Bears this season, but MU held the lead heading into the seventh. The two teams exchanged a pair of runs in the third with freshman Kaytlin Haney laced a single down the right field line with the bases loaded to score both junior Randi Rea and sophomore Victoria Hugghins.
After an IUPUI run in the top of the sixth, Mercer would take the lead for the first time in their bottom half of the inning. Again it was Garmany that made things interesting. She gave the Bears the lead back with her third homerun of the year, this time a two-run shot to left center. Garmany is now batting .308 with three homeruns and eight RBI in four games.
