Mercer University
UNC Greensboro
Mercer Splits Games with UNC Greensboro on Day One of the Series
4/11/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
MACON, Ga. – The Mercer University softball team split a pair of games against the UNC Greensboro Spartans in double-header action. The Bears took game one 7-2, but fell 8-5 in the second game of the day. Mercer moves to 29-16 on the year and 5-2 in conference play.
Final – Mercer 7, UNCG 2
The Bears started the game hot scoring one run on two hits in the first inning to take an early lead. Caroline Taylor picked up the first RBI of the day with a single up the middle to score Taylor Miller, giving Mercer the 1-0 lead. After a scoreless second the Spartans answered with a solo-home run to tie the game at one, where the score would remain until the fifth inning.
Mercer would retake the lead in the fifth, adding three runs on three hits, pushing the Bears lead to 4-1. With two outs, Riley Carter tripled to right field, scoring Emma Andrew to start the scoring. On the next at bat Taylor picked up her tenth home run of the season with a two run blast off the Sikes Field scoreboard.
Mercer got back to work in the sixth adding another three runs on three hits to extend their lead to six. Miller picked up an RBI on a single to the pitcher scoring Kaylynn Sloat. Meghan Rud added a pair of RBIs with a single up the middle to push across Miller and Andrew for the final two Mercer scores of the day. UNCG's comeback fell short as they added one run in the seventh making the final score 7-2.
Kirsten Stevens recorded her 19th win of the 2015 campaign in her 19th complete game. Stevens recorded three strikeouts in seven innings of work while allowing three walks and two runs en route to the win.
Final – UNCG 8, Mercer 5
The Bears did not fair as well in game two as they fell to the Spartans 8-5 in seven innings. Mercer found their selves in a whole early as UNCG opened the game with a two run homer in the first. Mercer answered with a run of their own in the second, scoring on one hit. Quarisa Mauga recorded a RBI on a sacrifice fly to score Shayla Kicklighter, making the score 2-1 heading into the third.
The Spartans padded their lead in the fourth, this time on a two run blast to center field to give UNCG the 4-1 lead. Mercer fought their way back into the game again in the fifth adding three runs on two hits to tie the game at four apiece. Rud pushed across the first run of the inning on a sacrifice fly to score Molly Garmany. Carter added the final two runs of the inning, picking up a pair of RBIs with a double to right center, scoring Miller and Sloat.
Heading into the sixth the Spartans would not go away as they added their final four runs of the game on a gland slam to take an 8-5 lead heading into the seventh. The Bears tried to rally but the comeback fell short. Carter picked up her third RBI of the game scoring Miller to give the final score of 8-5.
Anna O'Neill picked up her sixth loss of the season pitching five innings and recording four strikeouts. Rachael Hugghins added two innings worth of work in relief allowing only one hit.
Mercer will be back in action tomorrow, Sunday, April 12th to decide the series against UNC Greensboro. Looking ahead, the Bears will travel to Samford to take on the Bulldogs on the weekend of April 18th.
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.
