Mercer University
Winthrop
Mercer Closes Tiger Invitational with 10-4 Win Over Winthrop
2/15/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
AUBURN, Ala. – In the final game of the Tiger Invitational, the Mercer University softball team was able to close out the competition with a strong performance against Winthrop University. The Bears topped the Eagles 10-4 through seven innings to move to 6-4 on the year.
Kirsten Stevens picked up her third win of the year, as she allowed six hits and eight strikeouts through five innings of work. Anna O'Neill had another strong outing of relief for the Bears, giving up one hit through two innings to close the game.
Winthrop started the scoring in the top of the first, scoring two runs off of two hits to open the game. Mercer answered quickly with a big first inning of their own, scoring five runs off of four hits and a Winthrop error. Quirisa Mauga got things going on a RBI single to left field scoring Meghan Rud, followed by a Caroline Taylor bases loaded walk to score Taylor Miller. Taylor Rogers singled through the left side for an RBI scoring Natalie Shiver. With the bases loaded, Jastine Alaan drew the walk scoring Mauga. Taylor took advantage of a passed ball scoring the final run of the inning, as the Bears took a commanding 5-2 lead to close the first inning of play.
Stevens worked out of a jam in the second with help from Riley Carter, Emma Andrew, and Shiver to prevent a run at the plate and leave the bases loaded for the Eagles. The Bears would go back to work on offense in the second. Miller scored off on an illegal pitch to open the inning, followed by a RBI single from Rogers to score Mauga. Mercer would capitalize on a pair of Winthrop errors as Shayla Kicklighter and Kaylynn Sloat would both score to push the lead to 9-2.
Winthrop added a run in the third off of a solo home run from Maddie Antone, before adding their final run of the game in the fifth off of a Sara Allan RBI single. The Bears answered with a run of their own in the fifth, as Alaan scored on a bases loaded walk to push the lead to 10-4. O'Neill entered the circle in the sixth allowing one hit and one walk through eight batters to end the game.
Mercer will be back in action on Friday, Feb. 20th, as the Bears head to Gainesville, Fla. to take part in the University of Florida Lipton Invitational where they will face Illinois St., Kansas, Liberty, and No. 1 Florida over the course of the weekend.
Stay tuned to MercerBears.com for live stats and boxscores and be sure to follow Mercer softball on social media (Twitter / Facebook / Instagram) to keep up with all things Mercer Softball.
