Mercer University
Virginia Tech
Softball Falls In Doubleheader At Virginia Tech
4/2/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
BLACKSBURG, Va. – The Mercer University softball team was defeated twice by Virginia Tech, 6-0 and 5-4, in non-conference action on Saturday, April 2.
FINAL – Virginia Tech 6, Mercer 0
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Bears were held to less than four hits for only the fifth time this season and couldn't rally from an early 5-0 deficit in game one at Virginia Tech (16-16). The Hokies scored on four extra-base hits throughout the game, including back-to-back doubles in the first inning and a solo home run in the fourth.
Starting pitcher Jill McElderry tossed only one inning before being replaced by sophomore Megan Bilgri in the circle. McElderry dropped to 4-6 for the season. Bilgri scattered six hits and surrendering two runs while striking out a pair in five innings of relief.
PLAYER OF THE GAME
Sophomore Quirisa Mauga went 2-for-2, picking up two-thirds of Mercer's hits against Virginia Tech's pitcher, Maggie Tyler (13-9). Her two singles came in the second and fifth innings. The third baseman extended her team-high reached-base streak to 17 games in the process.
FINAL – Mercer 4, Virginia Tech 3
HOW IT HAPPENED
A productive offensive game for the Bears turned sour as Virginia Tech rallied for the win with a two-run walk-off home run in the bottom of the seventh inning. Mercer out-hit the Hokies 12-10, led by senior Natalie Shiver's 4-for-4 performance. Two other Bears, junior Taylor Miller and Mauga had multi-hit games as well, with three and two hits, respectively.
A RBI-single by Mauga in the first gave the Bears their first run and lead of the day before Virginia Tech rallied with a pair of runs in the bottom half. The Orange and Black reclaimed the lead in the third behind a RBI-triple by Mauga and RBI-single by Shiver. The catcher added another RBI-single in the fifth before the Hokies claimed the win in the final frame.
Junior Anna O'Neill lasted only 1.2 innings in the circle for Mercer before junior Maxine Rodriguez replaced her with 3.2 innings of relief. Bilgri made her second appearance of the day as well, and took the loss by surrendering the walk-off home run.
PLAYER OF THE GAME
Shiver nearly reached her hit total for the past six games with her four-hit performance against the Hokies. All four hits were singles, two of which drove in runs. The biggest came in the third inning as she followed up Mauga's game-tying triple with a single to put the Bears ahead 3-2. It was Shiver's ninth multi-hit game of the season and 22nd of her career.
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NOTABLES
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With hits in both games, Mauga extended her reached-base streak to a team-best 18 games on Saturday. The sophomore was a combined 4-for-6 at the plate with a pair of hits in both games, giving her six multi-hit performances for the season and five since March 12. She also has two hits in each of her last three games.
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Shiver's four-hit performance in game two is an individual game-high for the Bears this season. Mercer had 10 individual three-hit games prior to Shiver's outing.
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Junior Taylor Rodgers' streak of reaching bases in five consecutive pinch-hit chances was snapped in game one as she fouled out. She got right back on track in game two as she was hit by a pitch while pinch-hitting for Andrew.
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Rodriguez was effective in her third relief appearance of the season, tossing 3.2 innings and surrendering only one unearned run in the game two loss.
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Senior Kaytlin Haney made her first start since March 6 in the game two loss. She was 0-for-2 at the plate while playing all seven innings in right field.
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With two strikeouts in the game one loss, Bilgri set a career-high with 23 strikeouts. She entered the twin bill tied with her previous career-high of 21.
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The Bears' loss in game two was only the fourth time they've out-hit an opponent and failed to walk away as victors. It was also Mercer's 10th game this season with at least 10 hits. They're now 6-4 when recording 10 or more hits.
RECORD UPDATE
Mercer is now 17-22 overall following Virginia Tech's doubleheader sweep. The Bears remain winless all-time against the Hokies, falling to 0-3.
UP NEXT
Mercer continues its nine-game road stretch with a doubleheader at Savannah State (13-17) in Savannah, Ga. on Wednesday. The Tigers are coming off of a three-game sweep of MEAC foe Bethune-Cookman on March 25-26 in Dayton Beach, Fla. The twin bill was originally scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 24, but inclement weather postponed the matchup.
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.
