Mercer University
IPFW
Big Bats Lift Softball to Opening Day Sweep
2/6/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
MACON, Ga. – The Mercer University softball team opened its 2015 season with a pair of convincing victories at Sikes Field on the first day of the Mercer Invitational Tournament. The Bears rolled past IPFW, 11-1, in its first game of the night, before claiming a 12-4 triumph in the nightcap.
"We like to have an attack mentality when we approach the plate," said Head Coach James DeFeo. "We coach our girls to take their hacks and if their pitchers are throwing strikes we're swinging."
Mercer's offense was on display throughout Friday, as it pounded out 27 hits en route to 23 runs in its two games. Taylor Rodgers led the team with four hits on the day, as she was one of seven Bears with multiple hits. Natalie Shriver and Kaylynn Sloat both had big days at the plate as the two led the Bears with four RBI apiece.
"We had high quality starts from our pitchers today," said DeFeo. "Anna O'Neill and Kristen Stevens both hit their spots early and executed when we needed them to, which helped close out both games."
Mercer's offensive outburst overshadowed an impressive effort by the team's starting pitchers, who surrendered just one run on four hits through the first nine innings. O'Neill gave up one run in five innings of work in the opener for her first win of the season, while Stevens tossed four scoreless frames to open up game two, allowing only one run after returning to close the contest.
Mercer 11, IPFW 1
After two scoreless innings against IPFW to open up the day, the Bears broke through with a big third inning. Kaylynn Sloat's grand slam highlighted a five-run inning for Mercer, who outhit the Mastodons 12-2 in the contest.
IPFW got back one run in the top of the fourth, but the Bears answered with Natalie Shiver's two-run single through the right side. Meghan Rud added a RBI single in the fifth, before Caroline Taylor put the finishing touches on the contest with her three-run blast that ended the game via the run rule.
Mercer 12, Valpo 4
Mercer dominated its second game of the day from the start, jumping out to a 3-0 advantage in the second on a throwing error followed by a two RBI single from Taylor Rodgers. The bats stayed hot, as the Bears added five runs in the third led by Shriver's solo homerun.
Mercer scored three runs in the fourth off the bats of Jastine Alaan and Riley Carter to hold a 11-0 lead heading into the fifth. Valparaiso answered in the fifth inning with four runs, but the comeback was halted in the bottom of the sixth when Carter scored on a suicide bunt from Alaan ending the game via the run rule.
Action continues tomorrow in day two of the Mercer Invitational. !PFW will take on Valparaiso in the first game of the day beginning at 10:00 a.m. fallowed by Mercer vs. Jacksonville St. at 12:15 p.m.
Stay tuned to TOURNAMENT CENTRAL for live stats and boxscores and Be sure to follow Mercer softball on social media (Twitter / Facebook / Instagram) and visit MercerBears.com for the most up-to-date information.
