Mercer University
Fordham
Softball Wins Two Games, Advances To Tournament Championship
3/5/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
MACON, Ga. – The Mercer University softball team earned two wins on Saturday, March 5 as it defeated Fordham 6-0 and Iowa State 5-0 at Sikes Field in Day 2 of the Black & Orange Challenge, sponsored by Apparel Authority.
FINAL – Mercer 6, Fordham 0
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Bears had a total-package win over Fordham in the second game of the day as three players went deep to handily defeat the Rams. A two-run home run by Quirisa Mauga, her first of the season, gave Mercer an early 2-0 lead after one inning. Shaila Warren tacked on another run in the second inning as she hit her third home run of the season, a solo shot.
The Bears didn't score again until the fifth inning, as Warren scored on a fielder's choice play. Natalie Shiver jumped in on the long ball action the following inning by hitting a solo home run to left field. It was Shiver's second of the season and gave Mercer a 6-0 lead that remained final.
PLAYER OF THE GAME
Among the Bears' offensive fireworks, Anna O'Neill went to work in the circle for Mercer as she tossed a complete game, three-hit shutout to earn her third win of the season. It was O'Neill's third complete game of the season, as she struck out five batters and issued two walks. O'Neill held the Rams hitless in five of her seven innings pitched and kept Fordham from advancing past second base the entire game.
FINAL – Mercer 5, Iowa State 0
HOW IT HAPPENED
Mercer again used an early lead to separate itself and eventually defeat Iowa State for the second time in as many days. By the third inning, the Bears led 4-0, largely in part to a three-run inside-the-park home run by Meghan Rud in the second inning. The round-tripper was laced down the right field line, scoring Shaila Warren and Natalie Shiver as well.
Rud scored the first run of the game in the first inning as well when Mercer executed a double steal with runners on the corners. A sacrifice fly by Natalie Shiver in the fifth inning scored Jaya Alaan to plate the Bears' fifth and final run.
PLAYER OF THE GAME
Mercer's most important player again spent the entire game in the circle. Maxine Rodriguez matched O'Neill's earlier performance with a four-hit, complete game shutout of the Cyclones to earn her second win of the season. The junior threw her second complete game of the season, the first of which was a shutout.
Rodriguez kept the Cyclones off balance all evening, scattering four hits and two walks while striking out three batters.
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NOTABLES
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Mercer's three-game winning streak is a season-high. The Bears have defeated Fordham and Iowa State, twice, by a total score of 20-3. The Bears' starting pitchers have excelled in all three games, tossing a combined 20.1 innings pitched while surrendering only three runs and striking out 10 batters.
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All three of Anna O'Neill's wins in the circle this season have come in complete-game performances. The junior earned her first win in the Bears' season-opening victory over St. Bonaventure and and her second against Austin Peay last weekend in the Trojan Warrior Tournament.
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The Bears scored seven of their 11 runs in the first two innings on Saturday, plating three in the first game and four in the second. Mercer has scored 16 runs in the first inning this season while adding 11 in the second. The 27 runs in the first two frames are more than they've scored in the third through fifth innings, combined (26).
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Natalie Shiver and Shaila Warren both had three hits over Saturday's games, going 3-for-5. Shiver knocked in two runs while Warren picked up one RBI.
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Despite going 2-for-3 in the Bears' second game of the day, Taylor Miller's nine-game hitting streak was snapped when she went hitless against Fordham. The junior outfielder was also held without a stolen base in consecutive games for the first time since Feb. 27.
RECORD UPDATE
Mercer's three-game win streak, two of which came on Saturday, improves the Bears' record to 7-13 overall.
UP NEXT
Mercer will face Boston College (11-8) in the Black & Orange Challenge championship game at 2:15 p.m. on Sunday, March 6 at Sikes Field. The Eagles defeated Mercer 8-3 on Friday and are 4-0 in the Black & Orange Challenge so far. Boston College defeated Iowa State 10-1 (five innings) and Fordham 5-4 on Saturday to advance to the championship game. Iowa State (11-7) and Fordham (6-12) will square off in the consolation game at noon on Sunday.
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.
