Mercer University
Florida
Valiant Effort for Softball at No. 1 Florida
3/12/2014 12:00:00 AM | Softball
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Despite losing both games of a doubleheader, the Mercer softball team put up a great fight against the top ranked Florida Gators at Katie Seashole Pressly Softball Stadium, Wednesday.
Mercer (17-9) lost 8-0 in five innings in game one and 1-0 in game two against Florida (26-1).
GAME ONE – MU 0, UF 8 (5 innings)
Junior Rachel Hugghins (0-1) got the start for the Bears and pitched the whole game. Of the eight runs scored on her, only four were earned as the Mercer defense hit a snag.
The Bears' lineup ran into a pitcher on a mission as Florida's Hannah Rogers (10-1) allowed only two hits in the five innings of work. Senior Krista Kennedy and freshman Caroline Taylor were the only two Mercer batters to make it to first base.
Florida got the mercy rule-clinching run with two outs in the fifth.
GAME TWO – MU 0, UF 1
With game one in the rearview mirror, the Bears fought back in game two. With senior Julia Rice in the circle, the Gators managed only three hits. They still managed a victory, but it came on a last second run.
"Julia (Rice) kept the hitters off-balance and really hit her spots," pitching coach Kim Mazzapica said. "Holding the No. 1 team in the country to three hits is enough to be said about how she commanded her pitches and controlled their lineup."
Rice didn't allow a hit until the fourth inning, but the Gators had base runners in every inning except one due to walks. She was able to battle through them, until she got to the very last inning.
Florida's number two hitter hit a lead-off triple in the bottom of the seventh, bringing up the three and four hole hitters with the Gator's winning run a base away and nobody out. The decision was to intentionally walk the two hitters to create a force out at any base. Unfortunately, with the bases loaded and Rice facing a full-count to the hitter at the plate, the umpire called "ball four" and ended the game on a RBI-walk.
"Julia pitched extremely well," co-head coach Stephanie DeFeo said. "We played with heart and took care of the little things in the second game."
The Bears scattered five hits in the second game, including a 2-for-4 performance from senior McKenzie Woody. They weren't able to string the hits together for some runs, though, and, well, that's why Florida is the best team in the country.
"We played like Bears in the second game and it showed," head coach James DeFeo said. "Everyone stepped up. They fought together and showed great character.
Mercer returns home this weekend for a three-game series against Stetson. A doubleheader beginning at 1:00 p.m. is scheduled for Saturday and the series finale will be at the same time on Sunday.
