Mercer University
IPFW
Softball Finishes Mercer Bear Classic
3/2/2014 12:00:00 AM | Softball
MACON, Ga. – The Mercer softball team lost a close game in the Mercer Bear Classic Championship but then rebounded and run-ruled NC Central Sunday at Sikes Field.
Mercer was beaten by IPFW 2-1 before beating the Eagles 8-0 in five innings.
GAME ONE – MU 1, IPFW 2
Mercer was stymied in its rematch with the Mastodons as Bears hitters were shut down by IPFW's pitching.
The lone run that Mercer scored came in the fourth when sophomore Natalie Shiver singled to left and advanced to second when freshman Taylor Miller reached on an error. Shiver would then score on a single by junior Molly Garmany.
"We just didn't do the little things to win," co-head coach Stephanie DeFeo said. "There were times when we had one thing that messed up the rhythm of the entire rally."
The loss was charged to freshman Kirsten Stevens, despite a great performance. Stevens allowed both runs (one earned) on just four hits with no walks.
GAME TWO – MU 8, NCCU 0
Junior Riley Carter threw the second Mercer no-hitter of the weekend against the Eagles of NC Central in the final game of the weekend for the Bears as they improved their record to 15-6 on the year.
Carter was brilliant, and just a hit-batsman away from a perfect game. She also fanned seven Eagles in her five innings. It was just a great game, all around.
"She was hitting her spots and making hitters guess at what was coming next," coach DeFeo said. "She was completely on out there."
Aiding carter were some home runs from her teammates. Freshman Caroline Taylor led off the second inning with a giant solo home run to straightaway center field. A handful of batters later and with the bases loaded, sophomore Kaytlin Haney blasted a grand slam over the left-center field wall.
With the score at 6-0, and in the bottom of five, freshman Anna Chizek and Shiver completed a double steal of third and second with no one out. Junior Kaylynn Sloat followed with a sac fly that scored Cizek and then Victoria Hugghins pinch-hit a single to right that plated the mercy rule-clinching run in Shiver.
Mercer finished the weekend with a 4-2 record. Despite not winning the Mercer Bear Classic, the Bears look poised for conference play with only one final tune-up at Savannah State this Wednesday.
