Mercer University
Chattanooga
Mercer Softball Wins Game Two, Highlighting Twin Bill Split At Chattanooga
4/23/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – The Mercer University softball team went 1-1 against Chattanooga in a Southern Conference series-opening doubleheader on Saturday, April 23 at Jim Frost Stadium. Chattanooga defeated Mercer 10-9 in game one before the Bears evened the series with an 8-2 victory in game two.
FINAL – Chattanooga 10, Mercer 9
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Bears pounded out nine runs on 13 hits but couldn't notch another mark in the win column as they squandered a six-run lead over the final three innings. Leading 9-3 entering the bottom of the fifth, Mercer (19-27, 2-8 SoCon) surrendered a pair of runs due to two walks, two wild pitches and a hit batter. The Mocs (25-21, 5-5 SoCon) then unloaded five runs in the sixth, led by a bases-clearing, go-ahead double, before closing Mercer out in the seventh.
Mercer appeared to be in control early as it came away with back-to-back four-run innings in the third and fourth behind 10 hits. Back-to-back two-RBI singles by sophomore Emma Andrew and junior Maxine Rodriguez reclaimed the lead, 5-3, for Mercer in the third after the Mocs took a two-run lead on a home run. RBI-singles by seniors Natalie Shiver and Kaytlin Haney as well as another two-RBI single by Rodriguez in the fourth extended Mercer's lead to 9-3.
Junior Jill McElderry (4-9) took the loss after allowing five runs – three earned – in 1.2 innings of relief after Rodriguez tossed 4.1 in her 14th start of the season.
PLAYER OF THE GAME
While Rodriguez wasn't exceptional in the circle, allowing five runs – four earned – on six hits and four walks, the junior had a career game at the plate for Mercer's offense. Rodriguez finished 2-for-4 with a career-high four RBIs, all coming on a pair of two-RBI singles in the third and fourth innings. It was her fourth multi-hit game of the season.
FINAL – Mercer 8, Chattanooga 2
HOW IT HAPPENED
Entering the sixth inning trailing 1-0, sophomore Quirisa Mauga vaulted the Bears to a series-tying victory with a three-run home run. Juniors Taylor Miller and Taylor Rodgers led of the inning with a pair of singles before Mauga's long ball put the Bears on top for good.
Mercer (20-27, 3-8 SoCon) tacked on another five runs of insurance in the seventh, highlighted by Shiver's third RBI-single of the day, a double steal by Shiver and Miller and Mauga's second home run in as many innings, a two-run shot.
Sophomore Megan Bilgri (6-4) was effective in the circle as well, holding Chattanooga (25-22, 5-6 SoCon) to only two runs – a pair of solo home runs in the first and seventh innings – on five hits while striking out two batters in a complete game performance. She didn't issue a walk en route to her sixth win of the season, tied with Rodriguez for the team-high.
PLAYER OF THE GAME
Mauga provided the jolt of energy the Mercer offense was looking for late in game two and added to the fireworks with a second blast the following inning. The sophomore went 2-for-4 with the pair of home runs and five RBIs, both of which are career-highs.
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MERCER STAT OF THE DAY
Mercer's nine runs and 13 hits in game one are both season-highs in a loss. The Bears have had 10 or more hits in four losses this season, while their previous season-high for runs in a loss was seven against East Tennessee State last weekend.
NOTABLES
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Head coach James DeFeo surpassed predecessor Mike Raynor for sole possession of second place on the all-time Mercer wins list with his 144th victory on Saturday. The fifth-year head coach now needs nine wins to become the all-time winningest coach in Mercer softball history (Ken Phillips, 152).
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Shiver started her 207th career game on Saturday and moved into a three-way tie for fifth most games started all-time at Mercer.
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Miller moved into a tie for fourth place on the all-time Mercer hits list with 194 following her four hits on Saturday. She also picked up her team-leading 22nd mult-hit game of the season and extended her hitting streak to nine games.
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Mercer had back-to-back games with double digit hits for the third time this season on Saturday. The Bears racked up a total of 25 hits.
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Mercer stole six bases on Saturday – two each by sophomore Meghan Rud, Miller and Shiver – to surpass 70 thefts for the season. It's the third time since 2011 that Mercer has reached the mark, including least season's record-setting 89 steals.
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Mauga had a career day at the plate. She finished game one with a career-high three hits and followed the performance up with two more career-highs in game two, two home runs and five RBIs.
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Rud went hitless in game one, marking only the third time the sophomore has gone hitless in back-to-back games this season. She bounced back with a 2-for-3 performance in game two.
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Bilgri's complete game was the seventh of her career and third in which she tossed a full seven innings.
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Haney went 2-for-5 with one run scored and one RBI on Saturday. She replaced freshman Megan Lane in game one and started game two in right field.
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Rodgers continued to provide a clutch moment for the Bears, as she replaced freshman Shaila Warren at second base in game two and proceeded to go 1-for-1 with a sacrifice fly.
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All 20 of Mercer's wins this season have come when scoring five or more runs.
RECORD UPDATE
The Orange and Black are now 20-27 overall and 3-8 in SoCon play.
UP NEXT
The Bears will aim for their first SoCon series win tomorrow when they take on Chattanooga in the rubber match at 2 p.m. at Jim Frost Stadium.
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.
