Mercer University
Jacksonville
Home Runs and Solid Pitching Lead Softball to Doubleheader Sweep of Jacksonville
3/22/2014 12:00:00 AM | Softball
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Despite a forecast of showers, the sun was shining and the bats were popping for the Mercer University softball team as they swept Jacksonville University in a doubleheader at the Debbie and Fred Pruitt Softball Complex Saturday.
Mercer (20-10, 32 Atlantic Sun) had three homers in the two games to beat Jacksonville (12-15, 3-5 A-Sun) by five in the first game and by two in the second game.
GAME ONE – MU 6, JU 1
The Bears beat the Dolphins due to two separate three-run home runs, one by sophomore Kaytlin Haney and one by sophomore Natalie Shiver.
Haney hit hers in the top of the second after Jacksonville had taken a one run lead in the bottom of the first. Shiver hit hers in the seventh to add some insurance runs toward the Bears' effort. It would be more than enough.
Senior Julia Rice (7-2) gave up one run in the first inning, but was locked in after that. She gave up six hits and one walk while striking out three. She had a three-inning stretch where she only allowed one base runner.
Both senior Krista Kennedy and freshman Caroline Taylor had multi-hit games as Kennedy went 2-for-3 with a walk and Taylor went 2-for-4 with a run scored. Junior Kaylynn Sloat had an interesting game as she went 0-for-1 but was hit by a pitch three times. She has been hit by 13 different pitches this season.
GAME TWO – MU 2, JU 0
Jacksonville did not record a hit until the sixth, and only managed on more hit in the seventh off of a stellar performance by freshman Kirsten Stevens (7-2). Mercer's defense was terrific in the second act.
Sloat hit a solo homer in the seventh to squash any hope of the Dolphins getting a lucky run in the home half and forcing overtime. Stevens handled the Jacksonville lineup for the game, allowing a total of two hits and one walk while fanning five Dolphin hitters. There was only one base runner until the hit in the sixth and that one reached on an error.
The Bears got on the board in the second as junior Molly Garmany was hit by a pitch and advanced to second on a bunt by Shiver. Garmany would score on a single by freshman Taylor Miller. Miller laid down a beautiful bunt and beat it out for a single, but the catcher attempted a throw anyway, and made a bad one. It was via that bad throw that Garmany was able to round third and score the first run.
Stevens made short work of the Dolphins hitters all along, making that one run seem like ten. When Sloat hit the home run in the seventh, it was as if the writing was on the wall.
Mercer will conclude its series with Jacksonville on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. The weather forecast looks good, and you can bet there will be more good play from the Bears. Follow the Bears @MercerUSoftball for all things Bears softball.
