Saturday, February 17
Columbia, S.C.
10 A.M.
Mercer University
5-1
8
vs
4
Georgetown
2-5
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Georgetown
0
1
0
1
0
2
0
4
8
1
Mercer
3
0
0
0
4
1
X
8
11
1
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Bilgri, Megan (2-0)
L: Vannicola (0-2)
Batting:
2B: Campos, N. 1 ; Jones, S. 1
3B: Stevens, S. 1
HR: Bennett, S. 1
RBI: Bennett, S. 1 ; Stevens, S. 2
SH: Campos, N. 1 ; Jones, R. 1 ; Cartwright 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Dolby, A. 1 ; Jones, S. 1 ; Bennett, S. 1 ; Stevens, S. 1
CS: Kane, T. 1
HBP: Holiday, N. 1
Batting:
2B: Sanchez, Laurenne 1
RBI: Mauga, Quirisa 1 ; Taylor, Caroline 2 ; Andrew, Emma 1
SH: Andrew, Emma 1
SF: Mauga, Quirisa 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Rud, Meghan 2 ; Sanchez, Laurenne 1 ; Walsh, Abby 2 ; Buckland, Kate 1 ; Andrew, Emma 1 ; Warren, Shaila 1
SB: Rud, Meghan 1 ; Andrew, Emma 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
2
H
4
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
AB
2
R
0
H
1
RBI
2
Players Mentioned
INF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
C/OF
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
P
/ Softball1B
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
Bears Claim Saturday Doubleheader at Gamecock Invitational
2/17/2018 2:45:00 PM | Softball
Mercer outscores opponents 10-5 in day two of Gamecock Invitational
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Mercer earned a pair of victories in day two of the Gamecock Invitational. The Bears defeated Georgetown in the first game of the day, 8-4, tallying 11 hits for the contest. Mercer then responded with a 2-1 victory over Michigan State in what appeared to be a pitcher's duel.
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Game 1: Mercer 8, Georgetown 4
Caroline Taylor laced a bases-loaded, two-run single to provide the Bears with an early 2-0 advantage in the first inning. Mercer added to its lead in the next at bat as Emma Andrew dropped down the perfect squeeze play to bring Abby Walsh home from third.
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The Hoyas cut the deficit to just one after scoring on a Mercer error in the second inning, later followed by a solo home run in the top of the fourth inning off the bat of Sarah Bennett.
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The Bears plated four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning following a wild sequence of plays. With two outs and a runner on second, Walsh reached on a fielding error by the right fielder, bringing Rud home for the 4-2 advantage. Walsh later scored on a wild pitch to extend Mercer's advantage to 5-2. Later in the inning, with runners on the corners, Andrew swiped second, while Kate Buckland scored from third via an obstruction call on the Hoyas. The final run of the inning came off a delayed steal from Megan Lane, allowing Andrew to score from third for the 7-2 lead.
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Georgetown plated two runs of its own in the top of the sixth inning following a bases-clearing triple from Sera Stevens, cutting the Mercer lead to 7-4.
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Mercer reclaimed a four-run advantage in the bottom of the sixth inning as Quirisa Mauga lifted a sacrifice fly to left field following three consecutive singles off the bat of Shaila Warren, Rud and Sanchez.
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Megan Bilgri pitched a complete game, earning her second win of the season after throwing seven innings of work with eight hits and four runs, three of which were earned. Bilgri also added three strikeouts in the contest.
Pitchers of Record
» Win: Megan Bilgri (2-0)
» Loss: Katie Vannicola (0-2)
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Game 2: Mercer 2, Michigan State 1
After a scoreless first inning, the Bears jumped on board first for the second consecutive game. This time it was Megan Lane with a RBI single up the middle, plating Buckland from third, who was in to run for Taylor following a double to right-center.
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The Spartans evened the game up in the bottom of the second with a triple steal as the bases were loaded.
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Mercer regained the lead in the very next inning as Walsh roped an RBI double to deep right field, bringing home Sanchez in from second for the 2-1 advantage.
Walsh's RBI double was all that Mercer needed to claim the win as both squads only mustered together three combined hits over the final four innings, including two off the bat of the Bears.
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Lauren O'Dell made her season debut, earning the win after throwing five innings of work with just two hits allowed and one earned run. Stella Preston came in to relieve O'Dell in the sixth inning, throwing two scoreless innings of work with just one hit allowed.
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Pitchers of Record
» Win: Lauren O'Dell (1-0)
» Loss: Jordan Watson (1-1)
» Save: Stella Preston (1)
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Stat of the Day
After notching just three hits in yesterday's loss to Southern Illinois, Mercer rebounded with 16 total hits on the day. The Bears' 16 hits led to a total of 10 runs, while the pitching unit held opponents to 11 hits and just five runs for the day.
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Player of the Day
Megan Rud ended the day 5-for-8 at the plate, including 4-for-4 in the first game against Georgetown. Rud's four-hit performance in game one was just the fourth time that the standout senior has collected four hits in a single game.
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Notables
» Mercer improves to 6-1 overall on the season following wins over the Hoyas and Spartans.
» The Bears improve to 1-0 against Georgetown after winning the first-ever contest between the two programs.
» Mercer improves to 3-1 all-time against Michigan State, claiming its third consecutive win in the series.
» Caroline Taylor finished 2-for-5 with two RBIs and one walk in today's events.
» Five different Bears tallied at least one RBI on the day, while six different players crossed the plate for Mercer.
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Record Update
» Mercer: 6-1
» Georgetown: 2-5
» Michigan State: 2-6
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Up Next
Mercer will close out the Gamecock Invitational tomorrow at 3 p.m. when they take on host South Carolina at Beckham Field.
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Follow the Bears
For complete coverage of Mercer Softball, please follow the Bears on social media at @MercerUSoftball (Twitter), /MercerSoftball (Facebook) and @MercerUSoftball (Instagram) or visit the official home of Mercer Athletics at MercerBears.com.
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Game 1: Mercer 8, Georgetown 4
Caroline Taylor laced a bases-loaded, two-run single to provide the Bears with an early 2-0 advantage in the first inning. Mercer added to its lead in the next at bat as Emma Andrew dropped down the perfect squeeze play to bring Abby Walsh home from third.
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The Hoyas cut the deficit to just one after scoring on a Mercer error in the second inning, later followed by a solo home run in the top of the fourth inning off the bat of Sarah Bennett.
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The Bears plated four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning following a wild sequence of plays. With two outs and a runner on second, Walsh reached on a fielding error by the right fielder, bringing Rud home for the 4-2 advantage. Walsh later scored on a wild pitch to extend Mercer's advantage to 5-2. Later in the inning, with runners on the corners, Andrew swiped second, while Kate Buckland scored from third via an obstruction call on the Hoyas. The final run of the inning came off a delayed steal from Megan Lane, allowing Andrew to score from third for the 7-2 lead.
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Georgetown plated two runs of its own in the top of the sixth inning following a bases-clearing triple from Sera Stevens, cutting the Mercer lead to 7-4.
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Mercer reclaimed a four-run advantage in the bottom of the sixth inning as Quirisa Mauga lifted a sacrifice fly to left field following three consecutive singles off the bat of Shaila Warren, Rud and Sanchez.
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Megan Bilgri pitched a complete game, earning her second win of the season after throwing seven innings of work with eight hits and four runs, three of which were earned. Bilgri also added three strikeouts in the contest.
Pitchers of Record
» Win: Megan Bilgri (2-0)
» Loss: Katie Vannicola (0-2)
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Game 2: Mercer 2, Michigan State 1
After a scoreless first inning, the Bears jumped on board first for the second consecutive game. This time it was Megan Lane with a RBI single up the middle, plating Buckland from third, who was in to run for Taylor following a double to right-center.
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The Spartans evened the game up in the bottom of the second with a triple steal as the bases were loaded.
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Mercer regained the lead in the very next inning as Walsh roped an RBI double to deep right field, bringing home Sanchez in from second for the 2-1 advantage.
Walsh's RBI double was all that Mercer needed to claim the win as both squads only mustered together three combined hits over the final four innings, including two off the bat of the Bears.
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Lauren O'Dell made her season debut, earning the win after throwing five innings of work with just two hits allowed and one earned run. Stella Preston came in to relieve O'Dell in the sixth inning, throwing two scoreless innings of work with just one hit allowed.
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Pitchers of Record
» Win: Lauren O'Dell (1-0)
» Loss: Jordan Watson (1-1)
» Save: Stella Preston (1)
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Stat of the Day
After notching just three hits in yesterday's loss to Southern Illinois, Mercer rebounded with 16 total hits on the day. The Bears' 16 hits led to a total of 10 runs, while the pitching unit held opponents to 11 hits and just five runs for the day.
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Player of the Day
Megan Rud ended the day 5-for-8 at the plate, including 4-for-4 in the first game against Georgetown. Rud's four-hit performance in game one was just the fourth time that the standout senior has collected four hits in a single game.
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Notables
» Mercer improves to 6-1 overall on the season following wins over the Hoyas and Spartans.
» The Bears improve to 1-0 against Georgetown after winning the first-ever contest between the two programs.
» Mercer improves to 3-1 all-time against Michigan State, claiming its third consecutive win in the series.
» Caroline Taylor finished 2-for-5 with two RBIs and one walk in today's events.
» Five different Bears tallied at least one RBI on the day, while six different players crossed the plate for Mercer.
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Record Update
» Mercer: 6-1
» Georgetown: 2-5
» Michigan State: 2-6
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Up Next
Mercer will close out the Gamecock Invitational tomorrow at 3 p.m. when they take on host South Carolina at Beckham Field.
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Follow the Bears
For complete coverage of Mercer Softball, please follow the Bears on social media at @MercerUSoftball (Twitter), /MercerSoftball (Facebook) and @MercerUSoftball (Instagram) or visit the official home of Mercer Athletics at MercerBears.com.
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