Mercer University
East Tenn. St.
Softball Takes Doubleheader Sweep vs. ETSU
3/9/2013 12:00:00 AM | Softball
MACON, Ga. – Mercer freshman first baseman Ashton Holt hit her first career grand slam in game two of the Bears' Atlantic Sun Conference opener capping the Bears doubleheader sweep of East Tennessee State on Saturday at Sikes Field.
The Bears (13-12, 2-0 A-Sun) moved a game above .500 in the process taking both games on Saturday, 7-1 and 5-3. With the new conference format, the Bears also secured the weekend series victory as the two teams return to action tomorrow at 1 p.m. to finish out the three-game set.
Mercer has now won six straight against ETSU (7-9, 0-2 A-Sun), having not lost to the Lady Bucs since 2010.
GAME ONE:
The Bears earned two complete games from their starting pitchers on Saturday, starting first with senior Kerri Nidiffer in game one. The senior from Marietta gave up just one earned run in seven complete and tying a season-high of four strike outs.
The Lady Bucs one run came in the top of the first before Nidiffer settled things down and allowed just five hits in the final six innings.
Mercer took the lead for good in the third as three singles to lead off the inning scored freshman Marissa Botz. Botz, who returned to action on Saturday, scored off a base hit from fellow freshman Kaytlin Haney to tie the game at one. Two batters later junior Krista Kennedy tallied her team-leading 22nd RBI of the season off a groundout to short to give Mercer the 2-1 lead.
A leadoff double by senior Sarah Santana in the fifth eventually led to her coming around to score as Ashton Holt brought her home to move the Bears lead to 3-1. Holt finished going 2-for-3 with three RBI in the game and was one of three Mercer players to have multiple hits in the game. Junior McKenzie Woody recorded her and Botz each had two hits as well.
A four-run sixth inning provided the Bears the necessary cushion to cruise to the 7-1 victory.
GAME TWO:
Ashton Holt highlighted a come-from-behind victory in game two with one swing of the bat. After Sarah Santana drew a walk with the bases loaded to score Natalie Shiver on the free base, Holt came to bat with two outs.
After battling to a full count, Holt hit her third homerun of the season just over the right field wall for the grandslam and gave the Bears a 5-3 lead in the process. Holt finished the day going 3-for-5 with a double and the grand slam and seven RBI.
The five runs in the fourth were enough for Mercer starting pitcher Julia Rice. Rice improved to 6-4 with the win as she threw her fifth complete game of the season. She allowed 10 hits and all three runs were unearned while striking out four.
Mercer and ETSU finish out the weekend series tomorrow at 1 p.m. The teams will play just one game at Sikes Field.
