Mercer University
Chattanooga
Mercer Takes Series Against SoCon Leading UT Chattanooga
4/26/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
MACON, Ga. – The Mercer University softball team took the three game series 2-to-1 against the SoCon's top seeded UT Chattanooga. The Bears defeated the Mocs 5-4 in game one, dropped game two 8-2, and clinched the series with a 8-0 route in game three to close out Sunday's triple-header.
Final – Mercer 5, UTC 4
The Mocs jumped out to an early lead, scoring two runs to open the series in the first inning. Mercer went scoreless in the first two innings before adding their first run of the game in the third. Riley Carter added the first RBI of the day for the Bears, scoring Taylor Miller to narrow the Mocs lead to 2-1 heading into the fourth.
Chattanooga answered with a pair of runs in the top half of the fourth to extend their lead to 4-1. Mercer would not go away in game one, plating a run in the fourth to cut the lead to two on Molly Garmany's sac fly. The Bears scored a run in the third straight inning in the fifth, as Meghan Rud advanced home on a sac fly by Caroline Taylor, making the score 4-3 heading into the sixth.
After a scoreless sixth inning the Bears were left with three outs to decide the game in the seventh. With one out and a runner on, Natalie Shiver launched a ball over the left center fence to end the game with a two run walk-off to clinch game one. Kirsten Stevens recorded her 21st win of the season, throwing seven complete innings and recording seven strikeouts. Rud clinched the single season stolen base record in game one of the day with her 29th career stolen base.
Final – UTC 8, Mercer 2
UTC jumped out to an early lead again in game two of the day, plating two runs in the second inning to give the Mocs an early 2-0 lead. Mercer answered with a pair of runs in the third, the first of which came on an error by the Mocs third baseman to score Emma Andrew. The second run of the inning came on a RBI single from Talor to score Rud.
The Mocs would go on to score runs in the fourth, fifth, and seventh innings to take the commanding 8-2 lead. The Bears would throw three pitchers in the second outing of the day as Megan Bilgri got the start and picked up the loss on the day in four innings of work. Rachael Hugghins added a tenth of an inning of work before, Anna O'Neill was brought in to close out the contest.
Final – Mercer 8, UTC 0
Game three on the day noted Mercer's chance to jump out to the early lead, as the Bears scored two runs on two hits in the second inning. Shiver picked up her second home run of the day with a solo blast to dead center to give the Bears a 1-0 lead. On the next at bat, Kaylynn Sloat added a home run of her own to go back-to-back and give Mercer a 2-0 lead after two.
After a scoreless third, Mercer broke the game over in the fourth, scoring six runs on six hits and help by a Mocs error. Shiver recorded her third homerun of the day, second of the game, with a solo shot to left center field. Andrew added an RBI double to score Quirisa Mauga . On the next at bat Miller would drive in Andrew with a RBI single to first base. With runners on second and third, Carter added a pair of RBIs with a double to left field. With the pair of RBIs Carter set the new single season RBI record for the Bears at 58. Taylor added her second RBI sac fly of the day, scoring Carter for the final run of the day.
Stevens closed out the day retiring three out of four batters in the top of the fifth to record her 22 win of the season. The shutout marked Stevens sixth of the year and the first time the Mocs have been run ruled in 2015. Stevens allowed only two hits in five innings of work, while recording three strikeouts to round out her second win of the day.
Mercer will end regular season play with a three game series at East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, Tennessee, starting on Saturday, May 2nd at 1:00 p.m. EST, before heading to the SoCon Tournament in Chattanooga, Tennessee on May 6th.
