Mercer University
Miami (OH)
Mercer Drops Final Games Of Panther Invitational
2/21/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
ATLANTA – The Mercer University softball team didn't get the results it wanted on Sunday, falling 6-5 to Miami (Ohio) in extra innings and 8-2 to Georgia State in the final day of the Panther Invitational at Robert E. Heck Softball Complex.
FINAL – Miami (Ohio) 6, Mercer 5 (8 innings)
HOW IT HAPPENED
Despite scoring all five of their runs over the final three frames of play, Mercer's rally was halted as Miami scored two runs in the top of the eighth inning to claim victory.
Trailing 4-0 entering the bottom of the sixth inning, Mercer found the scoreboard on a solo home run by Natalie Shiver. The Bears then tied the game in the bottom of the seventh inning as Shaila Warren homered to left field, followed by Meghan Rud scoring on a fielder's choice and Quirisa Mauga's RBI-single, which scored Taylor Miller.
Mercer looked to rally again in the bottom of the eighth inning as it trailed 6-4, but only scored once as Emma Andrew reached home on an RBI-double by Miller.
Jill McElderry pitched a complete game for the Bears, tossing all eight innings and striking out seven RedHawks, but taking the loss and falling to 1-2 in the circle.
PLAYER OF THE GAME
Shaila Warren's first career home run came at an ideal time for the Orange and Black, as her solo shot sparked a seventh inning comeback. The Bears would go on to tie the game 4-4 with a three-run frame. Warren finished the game 2-for-3 at the plate with one RBI and one walk. The homer also gave Warren her first career RBI.
FINAL – Georgia State 8, Mercer 2
HOW IT HAPPENED
Mercer couldn't overcome a 10-hit performance and early 5-0 lead by the hosting Panthers in the 3 p.m. game on Sunday. Georgia State leadoff hitter and catcher Ivie Drake hit two home runs while the Panthers added a two-run shot in the third inning as well.
The Bears plated two runs in the top of the fourth inning as Quirisa Mauga's RBI-double and Emma Andrew's RBI-triple narrowed the Panthers' lead to 5-2.
Megan Bilgri (0-1) took the loss in the circle for the Bears, pitching three innings while surrendering seven runs and striking out two batters.
PLAYER OF THE GAME
Emma Andrew went 2-for-3 at the plate, highlighted by her RBI-triple that scored Quirisa Mauga in the top of the fourth inning. Andrew had the Bears' only multi-hit performance against Georgia State, which limited the Bears to five total hits on the afternoon.
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NOTABLES
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Jill McElderry's seven strikeouts against Miami (Ohio) were a career-high, breaking her former high of three against Central Michigan last weekend. She nearly doubled her total innings pitched with the eight-inning performance, bumping the season total to 18.
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Taylor Rodgers picked up her first two hits of the season in the designated player slot against Miami, going 2-for-4 with one RBI. Rodgers had 38 hits last season as a sophomore for the Bears.
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Rodgers and Shaila Warren were a combined 4-for-7 at the plate in the No. 8 and No. 9 slots in the batting order against Miami. The rest of the Mercer lineup was a combined 5-for-27 in the game.
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Emma Andrew picked up her second multi-hit game of the season with her 2-for-3 outing against Georgia State.
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Anna O'Neill was effective in relief for the Bears against Georgia State, throwing three innings of two-hit ball while striking out four batters. She now has 27 strikeouts in 23.1 innings pitched for Mercer this season.
RECORD UPDATE
Mercer is now 3-6 overall after going 0-4 at the Panther Invitational in Atlanta.
UP NEXT
The Bears hit the road to face in-state foe Savannah State for a midweek doubleheader, slated for Wednesday, Feb. 24 at 3 and 5 p.m.
Savannah State is currently riding a three-game skid and is 2-7 overall entering Wednesday's matchup. The Tigers are led by Shelby Eccles and Cortni Jones, who are both hitting .391 at the plate on the season.
STAY SOCIAL
Follow @MercerUSoftball on Twitter and Instagram or visit the team's official Facebook page for up-to-date information on the Bears' softball program.
