Mercer University
Jacksonville St.
Late-Game Heroics Helps Mercer Advance to Championship
2/7/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
MACON, Ga. – The Mercer University softball team advanced to the championship game of the Mercer Invitational Tournament, thanks in part to Riley Carter's walk-off single in the bottom of the seventh inning. Carter's heroics helped lift the Bears past Valparaiso in the nightcap, 5-4 after falling to Jacksonville State, 10-7, earlier in the day.
JSU jumped out to an early lead in the Bears' first game of the day, scoring two runs off a pair of Mercer errors in the first inning. The Gamecocks would go on to add seven more runs in the second in large part to a Sara Borders grand slam, pushing the lead to 9-0.
A two-run blast from Kaylynn Sloat in the fifth trimmed the deficit to two, 9-7, but JSU would push the lead to three with an insurance run in the top of the seventh. Mercer was able to load the bases in the bottom of the inning, but was unable to capitalize on the runners in scoring position en route to its first loss of the year.
Mercer 5, Valparaiso 4
Mercer got on the board early in their second game of the night, scoring on a two-run shot from Carter and a RBI single from Taylor Miller to take a 3-0 lead after two innings. Kristen Stevens threw four scoreless innings to open the game for the Bears, giving up only three hits heading into the fifth.
Valparaiso and Mercer exchanged runs in the fifth, before a seventh inning rally from the Crusaders. Valparaiso scored three runs in the frame to tie the game, prolonging the game. Lead-off batter Meghan Rud drew a walk, stole second base and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt from Taylor Rodgers. Valpo walked the next two batters to load the bases, setting up Carter's walk-off line drive to left center.
The action continues tomorrow in the final day of the Mercer Invitational. IPFW will take on Valparaiso in a consolation game at 12:00 p.m. followed by the championship game, which pits a rematch between Mercer and Jacksonville St. at 2:15 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.
