Mercer University
Western Caro.
Mercer Splits a Pair of Games with Western Carolina in their Inaugural SoCon Matchup
3/28/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
MACON, Ga. – Mercer splits a pair of games to Western Carolina in their inaugural Southern Conference series. Mercer moves to 25-14 on the year and 1-1 in conference play. The loss snaps the conference best ten game win streak.
Final – Mercer 3, Western Carolina 2
The first game of the day remained a pitchers duel through the first five innings, as both teams combined for seven hits through the first four and a half innings. Kirsten Stevens provided seven innings of work, recording seven strikeouts and no base-on-balls, while allowing seven hits and two runs.
Mercer would plate the first run in the bottom of the fifth on three hits, as Riley Carter scored Meghan Rud on a RBI single to shallow left field giving the Bears a 1-0 lead heading into the sixth. The Bears added another pair of runs in the sixth on three hits. Rud got the bats going with two outs with a double to left center scoring Kaylynn Sloat and Taylor Rogers.
Western Carolina attempted to rally in the top of the seventh, adding two runs, but could not complete the comeback as Stevens struck out the two batters to end the game. Stevens picked up her 16th win of the season, while pitcher her 16th complete game of the year, extending the Bears win streak to ten games.
Final – Western Carolina 6, Mercer 5
In game two Megan Bilgri would get the start for the Bears but was relieved in the first inning by Anna O'Neill after allowing five runs, three earned. Mercer would claw back into the game with two runs in the bottom of the first off of Caroline Taylors two run single to right center.
The Bears would add another run in the second on a solo-shot to center field by Quirisa Mauga, making the score 5-3 heading into the third. Western Carolina would get back on the board in the top of the third, scoring on an RBI double to extend their lead to 6-3.
After a scoreless third by Mercer, the Bears added a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth as Carter added a pair of RBIs on a hard hit ball to the shortstop, advancing Taylor Miller and Mauga.
Rachael Hugghins came in to pitch halfway through the fifth inning allowing zero hits through two and a quarter innings, while recording one strikeout. Mercer could not close the gap, as both teams would go scoreless through the remaining innings resulting in the final score 6-5.
Bilgri picked up her first loss of the season, as she moves to 3-1 on the year. The loss marked the Bears first conference loss and the first loss in their last 11 games.
Mercer will be back in action tomorrow, Sunday, March 29th at 1:00 p.m. for the deciding series matchup between Mercer and Western Carolina.
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.
