Mercer University
Samford
Mercer Takes Two out of Three at Samford in Pivotal SoCon Matchup
4/19/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Mercer University softball team took two out of three games against the Samford Bulldogs in a pivotal Southern Conference matchup. The Bears took both games of Saturday's double-header, winning 2-0 in game one and 5-1 in game two, before falling to the Bulldogs in Sunday's matchup 2-0. Mercer moves to 31-17 on the season and 7-4 in SoCon play.
Final – Mercer 2, Samford 0
In game one on Saturday the Bears scored two runs on nine hits while recording one error as they beat the bulldogs 2-0 through seven innings. Mercer scored the only two runs of the game in the third inning as Riley Carter and Taylor Rogers both picked up RBIs, giving the Bears the go ahead runs. Carter doubled to left field, driving in Taylor Miller for the first run of the game. She was then driven in two batters later on an RBI single from Rogers, giving the Bears the 2-0 lead.
Kirsten Stevens got the win in the pitching duel, as she moved to 20-6 on the year. Stevens pitched her 20th complete game, while recording six strikeouts with one base-on-balls, allowing only three hits against 25 batters faced.
Final – Mercer 5, Samford 1
In game two, Mercer jumped out to an early 2-1 lead in the first inning. Meghan Rud scored as Rogers drew the walk in a bases loaded situation for the first run of the game. The next batter, Natalie Shiver, also recorded a RBI as she too drew a walk for the Bears, scoring Carter.
Mercer added its other three points in the fourth inning to take the 5-1 lead. Carter added the runs on a three runs blast over the left field fence to score Rud and Rachael Hugghins. Mercer closed the day scoring five runs on five hits, while overcoming four errors in the win.
Megan Bilgri picked up her fifth win of the season, throwing six complete innings. Bilgri allowed five hits, striking out four batters in the process. Rachael Hugghins recorded her first save of the season, coming in to close out the seventh inning for the Bears.
Final – Samford 2, Mercer 0
In the final game of the series the Bears fell to the Bulldogs 2-0. Mercer produced eight hits but left eight runners on the base path in the loss. Samford scored one run in the first and sixth inning to give the bulldogs the 2-0 lead.
Miller and Shiver led the Mercer offensive, going 2-for-4 and 2-for-3 respectively. Stevens pitched all six innings, recording her seventh loss of the season. She allowed nine hits but struck out five of the 27 batters faced in the process.
Mercer will be back in action on Saturday and Sunday, April 25th and 26th, against the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Saturday's double-header marks family weekend for the Bears, while Sunday we will honor our seniors on senior day for the Bears final home game of the 2015 campaign.
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.
