Mercer University
Northern Ky.
Woody Helps Lead Bears to 15-5 Win Over Northern Kentucky
3/17/2013 12:00:00 AM | Softball
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Mercer junior outfielder McKenzie Woody's second inside the park homerun of her career highlighted the Bears' 15-5 win and series sweep over Northern Kentucky on Sunday afternoon at Grein Softball Field.
Woody helped cap the Bears' three-game series sweep of the Norse on Sunday by going 2-for-2 with a pair of runs scored and four RBI, including the three-run inside the park homerun. The junior from Fayetteville ended the weekend by going 7-for-11 at the dish with the one homerun and four RBI.
Mercer improves to 17-14 overall and 6-2 in conference with the sweep while Northern Kentucky remains winless in the A-Sun at 0-6 and 6-18 overall. The Bears also put a little separation from .500 mark moving three games above for the first time since starting the season 5-1.
The 15 runs in the game were the most this season and seven different Bears had hits in the game including six who had two or more. Freshmen Marissa Botz, Ashton Holt, Kaytlin Haney and juniors Krista Kennedy and Randi Rea.
After scoring two in the top of the first, Mercer was held scoreless in the second and third innings and was tied 2-2 before exploding for a 13 runs over the final two. Five hits coming with two outs helped push seven runs across in the fourth to give the Bears some breathing room with a 9-2 lead.
NKU plated three in their half of the fourth, but the Bears responded in the top of the fifth as Woody's inside the park homerun capped a six-run inning and the game for Mercer.
Junior Kristen Bretscher received the start on Sunday but had a short outing after giving up back-to-back solo homeruns in the second inning. Julia Rice, who picked up a win and save on Saturday, came in relief and finished out the game throwing 3.2 innings giving up three runs off six hits and three strikeouts. Rice earned the win and moved to 9-5 overall.
Mercer continues A-Sun action this week as Kennesaw State heads to Sikes Field on Wednesday to finish off the regular season series between the two schools. Game time is scheduled for 6 p.m.
