Mercer University
Western Carolina
Softball Falls, 10-2, In Series And Regular Season Finale
5/8/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
CULLOWHEE, N.C. – The Mercer University softball team couldn't string together enough consistent offense to handle a power-hitting Western Carolina in the Southern Conference series and regular season finale, falling 10-2 in six innings on Sunday, May 8 at the Catamount Softball Complex.
FINAL – Western Carolina 10, Mercer 2 (6 innings)
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Catamounts used three long balls, including a first-inning grand slam by Hunter Gibbons, to down Mercer in the regular season finale. Two four-run innings in the first and third frames launched WCU ahead 8-2 by the fourth. Taylor Sigmon earned her second win of the series for WCU by tossing a five-hit complete game while Mercer's Maxine Rodriguez took the loss with only 2.1 innings pitched.
The Bears struck first with a RBI-single by Taylor Rodgers in the top of the first inning, but Gibbons' grand slam in the home half quickly dissolved Mercer's lead. Natalie Shiver connected for a RBI-single in the third inning, but Mercer's bats failed to maintain any momentum throughout the remainder of the contest.
PLAYER OF THE GAME
Rodgers, making her fifth consecutive start and eighth of the season, helped Mercer get off on the right foot with a RBI-single in the first inning that scored Meghan Rud, who led off the game with an infield single. The junior designated player finished the game 1-for-2 with the RBI and one walk.
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NOTABLES
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Despite Sunday's loss to Western Carolina, the Bears still lead the all-time series, 7-3.
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Taylor Miller extended her hitting streak to 16 games with a single in the third inning. She's two games shy of her career-best 18-game hitting streak, set last season.
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Shiver had at least one RBI in all three games this weekend at Western Carolina and finished the series with five total. She continues to rank in top-10 among SoCon players with a team-best 39 RBIs.
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The only runs Rodriguez allowed in two starts against Western Carolina this weekend came off of the long ball. She surrendered three home runs over her two starts, accounting for eight Catamount runs.
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After a season-best five-game hitting streak came to an end in Saturday's twin bill, Rodgers got back on track with her RBI-single in the first inning. She's also started five consecutive games, a season-best, dating back to April 30 against Furman.
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Mercer failed to win a Sunday game in SoCon play this season, going 0-6 in such contests.
RECORD UPDATE
The Orange and Black finished the 2016 regular season with an overall record of 21-33, a 4-14 mark in SoCon play and seventh place in the league.
UP NEXT
The Bears will look to put their regular season in the past as they head to Greensboro, N.C. for the SoCon Tournament this week, May 11-14. Mercer will be the No. 7 seed in the tournament and face No. 2 seed Furman (29-26, 10-8 SoCon) at 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 11.
Furman swept the Bears in a three-game set on April 30-May 1 at Sikes Field in Macon, Ga. with scores of 2-1, 3-0 and 8-2.
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.
