Bears Open SoCon Play at Chattanooga

Saturday, March 24

Chattanooga, Tenn.

1 P.M.

Mercer University

Chattanooga

Photo by: Dannie Walls Photography

3/23/2018 12:07:00 PM | Softball

Live Stats Live Video (G1)Live Video (G2)Live Video (G3)Game Notes

By: David Fox

MACON, Ga. – Mercer will kick start its 2018 Southern Conference campaign with a three-game series at Chattanooga, Tenn., squaring off with the Mocs this weekend. The two competitors will play a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m., followed by a single game on Sunday at 2 p.m.

WEEKEND OUTLOOK
Date: Saturday, March 24 – Sunday, March 25
Location: Chattanooga, Tenn. | Frost Stadium
Teams Records: Mercer (19-10, 0-0) at Chattanooga (14-17, 0-0)
Live Stats: gomocs.com/livestats
Live Video: Game One / Game Two / Game Three
Twitter Updates: @MercerUSoftball
Game Notes: Mercer

On Deck
Mercer is set to take on Chattanooga this weekend in a three-game series in Chattanooga, Tenn. The Bears started off the season scorching hot with a 12-2 overall record, the best start in program history. Since then, Mercer has dropped eight of its last 15 games, despite finishing 3-2 this previous weekend at the Mercer Bears Classic.

SoCon Openers
Mercer kicked off the Southern Conference schedule in 2017 with a three-game series against the Mocs, taking two of three against Chattanooga in Macon, Ga. The Bears have yet to pull off a three-game sweep in SoCon openers, taking two-of-three against Western Carolina in 2015 and dropping three games to Samford in 2016.

A Rud Awakening
Don't look now, but Meghan Rud continues to climb up the career leaderboard at Mercer. Rud already ranks first in stolen bases with 104. The senior outfielder is second in career runs (150), third in career hits (228) and walks (88), fourth in career at bats (666) and eighth in total bases accumulated (268). Rud has played in 203 games, needing just 14 more games to crack the Top 10 in program history.

Challenging Chattanooga
The Bears are 16-26 all-time against the Mocs, having won four out of the last six meetings. Mercer is 3-16 in games played in Chattanooga. The Mocs are 14-17 on the season, having dropped two consecutive games heading into the weekend. Chattanooga finished 2-3 at the USF Under Armour Invitational, dropping three of its final four games.

Brook Womack leads the Mocs in batting with a .413 batting average with a team-high three home runs and 20 runs batted in. As a unit, Chattanooga is posting a team ERA of 3.91, allowing a .267 batting average to opponents.

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.