Mercer Drops a Heartbreaker to UTC, 7-6, in Semifinal Action
5/8/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – The Mercer University softball team dropped a nail-biter to top-seeded Chattanooga, 7-6, in Friday morning's Southern Conference Tournament semifinal at Frost Stadium. Mercer will now face the winner of Furman and Western Carolina at 3 p.m. for a berth in the SoCon championship game.
Final – Chattanooga 7, Mercer 6
Mercer fell to 36-21 on the season, after the Mocs hit three-run walk-off home run in the bottom of the seventh for a shokcing victory. Kirsten Stevens picked up the tough loss and moved to 25-9.
Mercer had a slow start in the opening inning as Chattanooga's Taylor Deason struck out the side to start the game. The Mocs put together three hits in the bottom half of the frame, before taking advantage of an error by the Bears ot plate the game's first run. However, Stevens battled back with help from a fly ball and a strikeout to leave the bases loaded.
After the Bears recorded their first two baserunners of the game in a scoreless second, Chattanooga would add to its lead, as Hamill gave the Mocs back-to-back two-out hits with a two-run home run to center field for a 3-0 advantage.
Emma Andrew got the Bears started with a lead off hit in the third. Taylor Miller followed Andrew up with a single down the first base line to put runners on the corners and give the team its first real opportunity to cut into the Mocs' lead. After a Miller stolen base, Meghan Rud added a RBI on a slap hit to second, scoring Andrew and allowing advance Miller to third. Riley Carter plated the Bears' second run of the game on the next at-bat, driving in Miller with a hard hit ball to the shortstop to trim the deficit to one, 3-2.
After a scoreless fourth by both teams, Chattanooga added an insurance run in the fifth. UTC's Criket Blanco hit a towering shot that carried over the left field fence for a solo homerun, giving the Mocs a 4-2 lead. Jesslyn Stockard added the inning's second hit moments later with a rip of the middle but Stevens would answer with her second strikeout of the inning to escape any further danger.
Mercer threatened in the sixth inning, after loading the bases with just one out as Kaylynn Sloat and Quirisa Mauga each reaced on a hit-by-pitch. However, back-to-back fielder's choices left the Bears' empty handed in another scoreless frame.
Following a quick inning for Stevens and the Bears' defense. Rud started the rally with a one-out single that put the game's tying run at the plate. Carter did not disappoint in the pressure situation, as she blasted a two-run shot over the left field fence to knot the game at 4-4.
Natalie Shiver picked up the third straight hit of the inning with a single up the middle, before a UTC throwing error put two runners in scoring position. Shiver would score the go-ahead run moments later on a passed ball, but the Bears were not done. Mercer tacked on its fourth run of the inning for a 6-4 lead on Taylor's RBI single, however, Chattanooga was able to stop the bleeding with two key outs that left the bases loaded.
Stevens set down the first two batters faced to start the inning, but the Mocs battled back. UTC put two straight runners on base to set up Anyssa Robles' walk-off, forcing the Bears to play in the loser's bracket final at 3:00 p.m. with a championship berth on the line.
Top Performers
- Riley Carter – 4 at-bats, 1 hit, 3 RBIs, 1 HR
- Meghan Rud – 4 at-bats, 2 hit, 1 RBI, 1 run
- Natalie Shiver – 4 at-bats, 2 hit, 1 run
This afternoon's matchup will put No.3 Mercer against the winner of Game 10 with a 3:00 p.m. EST scheduled start. Game 10 pits Western Carolina and Furman against each other in a win-or-go home situation. Mercer split the series with Western Carolina at home and took 2-of-3 at Furman earlier this season.
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.
