Mercer University
Furman
Softball Sweeps Furman in Saturday Doubleheader
2/15/2014 12:00:00 AM | Softball
MACON, Ga. – The Mercer softball team cruised to two victories Saturday in a doubleheader against Furman at Sikes Field.
The Bears moved to 6-1 on the season due, in large part, to stellar performances on the mound.
GAME 1
Freshman Anna O'Neill threw her second shutout of the season and senior McKenzie Woody reached base all four times she went to bat as Mercer won 4-0.
O'Neill made short work of the Paladin lineup, allowing only two hits and one walk in her complete game performance. She frustrated the visiting hitters all afternoon, striking out nine to improve to 3-0 on the year. Woody did her part in the batter's box, going 2-2 with a pair of walks. Adding two steals and a run scored, the preseason All-Conference team member continued to impress with her speed.
The first two innings crept by without any action, but Mercer notched its first run in the third after two-straight bunt singles by freshman Taylor Miller and Woody. Junior Riley Carter then delivered the scrappy RBI-fielder's choice that place Mercer's first run of the day.
The Bears then ran three across the dish in the fifth thanks to a two-run homer by sophomore Kaytlin Haney, scoring herself and Woody, who led off the inning with an infield single. Later, with the bags loaded sophomore Natalie Shiver drew a RBI-walk to push the host's lead to 4-0.
GAME 2
Carter picked up on the mound where O'Neill left off and Mercer put up five runs in the fourth to send Furman home without a run.
Carter continued her strong performance from her second outing by racking up six strikeouts in 4.1 innings of work. She allowed five base-runners for the second straight outing while also keeping the opponents from crossing home plate.
"Riley's more locked in," head coach James DeFeo said. "She's got that laser-like focus that when she gets two strikes, she shuts down the batter."
Once again, all was quiet for the first two innings. The third inning saw the first run for the Bears as Miller hit a lead-off bunt single and advanced on a blunder at third. Miller would later score after advancing to third on Woody's groundout and scoring on a sacrifice fly to center by Haney.
The floodgates opened in the fourth despite two straight outs to begin the Mercer frame. A walk and two consecutive doubles stretched the Bears' lead to three. A hit batsman and back-to-back singles by Woody and Haney plated junior Kaylynn Sloat and Miller. Two batters later, freshman Caroline Taylor drew a bases-loaded walk to bring in Woody and set the lead at six.
In the fifth, senior Krista Kennedy touched home on a throwing error. The Bears then triggered the five inning mercy rule when Miller hit an RBI double to right-center that scored junior Molly Garmany setting the final score at 8-0.
In all, Mercer totaled 16 hits and 12 runs on the day while sending Furman home with a zero in the runs' column and only four hits.
Mercer will go on the road Monday to take on the Georgia Bulldogs in Athens, Ga. Their next home game will not be until Friday, February 28th when they kick off the Mercer Bear Classic against Marist. That game is scheduled to begin at 3:30 p.m.
