Mercer Softball Sweeps Georgia Highlands Doubleheader
9/28/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
MACON, Ga. – The Mercer University softball team got its fall schedule underway this past weekend, hosting Georgia Highlands in a Sunday doubleheader.
The Bears were dominant in the twinbill, outscoring the Chargers 25-1 over the two games. The Black and Orange won game one by a final of 17-1 and took the second in a shutout by a score of 8-0.
Mercer had strong pitching throughout the two games. Maxine Rodriguez tossed four innings of two-hit softball in game one, striking out three Charger batters. Jill McElderry followed up with a one earned run performance over four innings, allowing one hit and punching out three. Ginny Hearn finished the first game with one shutout inning.
Anna O'Neil and Megan Bilgri combined to toss a one-hit shutout in the second game. O'Neill went four innings with six strikeouts while not allowing a hit or a walk. Bilgri followed up with a three-inning performance, giving up one hit and striking out four.
The Bears' offense was equally impressive at the dish. Taylor Rodgers went 6-for-7 on the afternoon between the two games with a homerun and a double to drive in six. Natalie Shiver drove in a team-high seven runs on the day off a 4-for-7 performance, including a homerun. Emma Andrew, Lindsay Boynton and Caroline Taylor each added a homerun of their own to cap off the offensive explosion.
"For the first time out on the field, I feel like we played very well in all three phases of the game," said Mercer head coach James DeFeo. "Our pitching was stellar and the defense was outstanding. We hit the ball hard, had good, disciplined at bats and made good adjustments at the plate.
"Our returners looked like they were in mid-season form and many of our newcomers made statements both offensively and defensively to show that they can step right in and compete at this level. We are looking forward to improving even more these next couple of weeks in practice before we take the field again on October 10/11."
The Mercer softball squad will wrap up the fall schedule on Saturday, Oct. 10 and Sunday Oct. 11, as it faces South Georgia State for one game and Georgia Military College for three. First pitch on October 10 is scheduled for 2 p.m.
