Mercer University
S.C. Upstate
Softball Loses Two to Upstate
4/5/2014 12:00:00 AM | Softball
MACON, Ga. – The Mercer University softball team saw its six game win streak come to an end on Saturday as Atlantic Sun conference rival USC Upstate took both games of a doubleheader.
Mercer (29-13, 11-4 A-Sun) lost game one to USC Upstate (36-4, 15-2 A-Sun) in a nail-biter at 3-2 before dropping game two 8-0. With two wins from Stetson today, Mercer now is in third place with a two-game advantage on fourth place Lipscomb.
Freshman Kirsten Stevens (11-3) got the start for the Bears and pitched another good game. She made only two mistakes, both to Upstate's Shellie Robinson, that turned into two home runs and three runs scored. She gave up eight hits and a walk while striking out three.
Senior McKenzie Woody had a great game one as she went 3-for-4 at the plate and made a couple of highlight-reel catches in centerfield.
The Bears tried to claw their way back at the end. Senior Randi Rea delivered an RBI-single in the bottom of the sixth that tied the game up at one run apiece at that point. Then, in the bottom of the seventh, after Robinson's second home run to put Upstate up two, junior Kaylynn Sloat scored on a groundout by sophomore Kaytlin Haney to cut the lead to one. Upstate was able to get a strikeout to end Mercer's chances of a comeback shortly thereafter.
Mercer lost game two to Upstate 8-0.
Senior Julia Rice (8-3) pitched and fielded a terrific game up until the sixth inning when Upstate took advantage of a few defensive miscues and rattled off six runs. The Spartans would add two more in the top of the seventh to finish out the scoring.
Woody and freshman Taylor Miller both had multi-hit games as Woody went 2-for-4 and Miller got two hits in three tries. Woody finished the day 5-for-8.
Mercer's next contest will be at Kennesaw State this Wednesday. Game time is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.
