Mercer University
Georgia Southern
Softball Sweeps Doubleheader with Georgia Southern Thanks to the Long Ball
3/20/2014 12:00:00 AM | Softball
MACON, Ga. – The Mercer softball team saw quite a bit of the long ball as the swept Thursday's doubleheader with Georgia Southern at Sikes Field.
The Bears (20-10, 3-2 Atlantic Sun) hit two home runs in the first game and beat the Eagles (18-11, 2-1 Southern Conference) 4-3 before run-ruling them in game two 11-3 on the strength of four homers, three of which came from Freshman Caroline Taylor.
GAME ONE, MU 4, GS 3
Julia Rice (6-2) got the start and pitched five innings of one-run ball to help lead the Bears to their game one victory.
Sophomore Kaytlin Haney hit a solo home run in the bottom of the first inning to put Mercer on the board. Junior Kaylynn Sloat then followed suit and hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the second inning to give the Bears all of the runs they would need.
Mercer also received its first save of the season due to the two innings that freshman Anna O'Neill put in to preserve the lead.
GAME TWO, MU 11, GS 3
Mercer scored seven runs in the first three innings while withstanding a three-run third by Georgia Southern to cruise on to a doubleheader sweep. The Bears got four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to seal the run-rule win.
Taylor was the MVP of this one as she belted three home runs out of the park going a perfect 3-for-3 with seven RBIs while also tallying a walk. Sophomore Natalie Shiver also had a 3-for-3 game, hitting one home run in the third inning, and scoring one other run on a double by Sloat in the second.
"Our players battled in the first game," pitching coach Kim Mazzapica said. "They took advantage of Georgia Southern's mistakes in game two. We had really good hitting in the second game."
Kirsten Stevens (6-2) was more than happy for the run support as the only three runs scored on her, in the third inning, were unearned. Stevens fanned two batters in her complete game outing.
Mercer will carry this momentum with them as they take to the road this weekend for a conference clash with Jacksonville. Game time on Saturday is at 1:00 p.m. Follow @MercerUSoftball on twitter for all of your up-to-the-minute coverage of the games.
