Mercer University
Samford
Softball Falls To Samford In SoCon Series Finale
3/26/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
MACON, Ga. – The Mercer University softball team was defeated by Samford 10-3 on Saturday, March 26 at Sikes Field, resulting in a Southern Conference-opening sweep by the Bulldogs.
FINAL – Samford 10, Mercer 3
HOW IT HAPPENED
Samford (18-14, 3-0 SoCon) used three home runs, including a grand slam, to complete the weekend sweep of Mercer. The Bears took a 2-1 lead in the fourth inning on a two-run home run by sophomore Quirisa Mauga – her second of the series and fourth of the season – but the lead was short-lived. The Bulldogs, who out-hit Mercer 14-5, sealed the win with an eight-run fifth inning.
Mercer plated its third run in the sixth inning as sophomore Emma Andrew scored from third base on a throw by Samford's catcher. Junior Anna O'Neill (4-6) took the loss for Mercer in the circle, giving up six runs in 2.1 innings of relief for starting pitcher Jill McElderry.
PLAYER OF THE GAME
Mauga's second home run of the series proved to be the highlight of the Bears' offensive output on Saturday. The sophomore finished the game 1-for-3 with the two RBIs and a walk. She was the only Bears to reach base twice.
NOTABLES
-
With the home run and walk, Mauga reached base for a team-best 14th consecutive game. The two-run blast also extended her hitting streak to five games, tying her career-best from 2015, and improved her batting average three percentage points to .253.
-
Junior Taylor Rodgers drew a walk following an 11-pitch at-bat to reach base in her third straight pinch-hit opportunity. Her past two pinch-hit chances resulted in doubles against Samford on Friday and Seton Hall last weekend.
-
Andrew had at least one hit in all three games this series, improving her average 19 percentage points in the process (.260). She was 1-for-3 with one run scored on Saturday.
-
Saturday was the 21st game of the season that sophomore Meghan Rud and junior Taylor Miller have both recorded a hit in the same contest. Both were 1-for-4 at the plate, with Miller scoring a run on Mauga's home run.
-
Samford's three wins over Mercer mark the first time the Bears have been swept by a SoCon opponent since joining the league in 2015.
-
Saturday's loss was the 16th time the Bears have been defeated when scoring less than five runs this season. They're 0-16 in such games.
RECORD UPDATE
Mercer falls to 16-19 overall and 0-3 in the SoCon with Saturday's 10-3 loss to Samford.
UP NEXT
The Orange and Black kick off a nine-game road stretch with a non-conference doubleheader at Alabama State (13-18) in Montgomery, Ala. on Wednesday, March 30. They'll play another non-conference doubleheader on Saturday, April 2, at Virginia Tech (14-15) in Blacksburg, Va. to conclude the upcoming week.
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.
