Mercer University
Florida
Softball Drops a Pair of Games to No. 1 Florida
2/22/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – On the final day of the Aquafina Invitational, the Mercer University softball team (7-8) lost a pair of games to host and No. 1 Florida (16-0). The weekend marked the first time in school history that the Bears have played the NFCA Coaches/USA Today number one team in the country.
Final – Florida 20, Mercer 3
The University of Florida jumped out early on the Bears scoring five runs in the first inning play, on four hits against starting pitcher Kirsten Stevens. Mercer answered with a run of their own on a Riley Carter RBI single up the middle, scoring Meghan Rud. The Gators added six more runs in the second aided largely off of a Briana Little grand slam, pushing their lead to 11-1.
Florida would get back on the board in the fourth, as Little recorded her second home run of the game pushing across three more runs. The Gators added six more runs in the fifth on back-to-back home runs. Mercer added two runs in the bottom of the fifth, as Emma Andrew's RBI double would score Kaytlin Haney before scoring on a Gator error. Stevens was credited with her fifth loss of the year, as the defeat marked the largest scoring differential this season.
Final – Florida 10, Mercer3
The Bears got off to a better start in their second game against the Gators. Florida grounded into a double play to end the inning in the first before adding two runs in the second and four in the third to take a 6-0 lead heading into the fourth. Mercer began to claw their way back, adding three runs in the top of the fourth.
Meghan Rud set up the first score on a lead off triple. Taylor Miller singled to left field driving in Rud. Kaytlin Haney added a pair of RBIs driving in Miller and Riley Carter. Florida added a run of their own in the fourth to make the score 7-3 heading into the fifth. Florida would score the final three points of the game off of a pair of home runs in the sixth, lining up the final score of the game.
Anna O'Neill picked up her second loss of the year, as the Bears move to 7-8 on the year. Miller and Haney led the offensive attack for Mercer, both with two hits a piece.
Mercer closes out their longest road trip of the year, going 3-7 on the road. The Bears are eager to be back in Macon, as they prepare to host the Black and Orange Challenge beginning on Feb. 27th against the University of Buffalo at 3:30 p.m. EST. Other teams in attendance include Evansville University and Kennesaw State University.
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.
