Saturday, March 30
Macon, Ga.
1 P.M.
Mercer University
9
vs
0
Western Carolina
Players Mentioned
INF/OF
/ Softball
P/1B
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
UTIL
/ Softball
C/OF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
Photo by: Mitch Robinson
Mercer Takes Series with Doubleheader Sweep
3/30/2019 6:22:00 PM | Softball
Bears defeat Western Carolina twice at home
MACON, Ga. – Mercer defeated Western Carolina, 9-0 and 6-4, in both ends of a doubleheader to take its first Southern Conference series of the season at Sikes Field on Saturday afternoon.
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The Bears (15-21, 2-1 SoCon) dominated in the circle and responded to a series-opening loss on Friday with the doubleheader sweep. Lynn Gardner tossed a five-inning one-hitter in the front end of the two contests before picking up the save in the series finale. Western Carolina fell to 13-19 overall and 1-5 in league play with the two losses.
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Game 1: Mercer 9, Western Carolina 0 (5 innings)
Mercer wasted little time getting ahead with its first lead of the series on Saturday. An RBI single by Danielle Castleberry scored Micayla Rood, who led off with a double down the left field line, in the first inning. The Bears then added five runs on five hits in the third frame to take a 6-0 lead. Castleberry and Shaila Warren launched home runs in the inning while Amanda Schwartz and Catie Josselet added RBI singles.
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The lead was all Lynn Gardner needed to work comfortably in the circle. The freshman left-hander allowed just one hit through five innings and did not allow a baserunner past second base while striking out three Catamounts.
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Mercer put the game away in the fourth when Schwartz was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and Josselet smacked a two-run double into the left-center gap. Castleberry (2-for-3), Josselet (2-for-3) and Warren (2-for-2) all had two hits apiece to lead the Bears.
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Pitchers of Record
» Win: Lynn Gardner (7-7)
» Loss: Kinsey Liscio (7-5)
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Game 2: Mercer 6, Western Carolina 4
The Bears scored at least one run in each of the first five innings and led by as many as six runs (6-0) heading into the sixth frame. Megan Lane provided some pop in the middle of the lineup, connecting on her second home run of the season – a solo shot – in the fifth after providing a RBI single in the third. She went 2-for-3 with a pair of RBI.
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Bailey Pattison, who earned the win with 5.2 innings pitched, did not allow a Catamount to reach second base until the fifth inning. Western Carolina snuck back into the contest after a throwing error extended the fifth inning, giving way to a three-run double by a pinch hitter. Pattison was relieved by Gardner, who allowed an RBI double that made it a 6-4 game. Gardner settled in, however, and retired the side in the seventh.
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Mercer added runs earlier in the game on sacrifice flies by Abby Walsh and Amanda Schwartz as well as a safety squeeze bunt by Kenlie Harvey.
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Pitchers of Record
» Win: Bailey Pattison (8-8)
» Save: Lynn Gardner (2)
» Loss: Shaina Reed (4-10)
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Notables
» Warren's home run in the front end of the doubleheader was her first of the season.
» Warren collected four hits on the day.
» Abby Walsh extended her hit streak to five games.
» Four Bears – Castleberry, Walsh, Warren and Jones – have reached base in five straight games.
» Gardner's five-inning performance in game one of the doubleheader was her eighth complete game.
» Laurenne Sanchez stole one base after reaching on a hit-by-pitch as a pinch hitter in the first game.
» Mercer drew five walks in the first game, including three by Abby Walsh.
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Records Update
» Mercer: 15-21 (2-1 SoCon)
» Western Carolina: 13-19 (1-5 SoCon)
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Follow the BearsÂ
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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The Bears (15-21, 2-1 SoCon) dominated in the circle and responded to a series-opening loss on Friday with the doubleheader sweep. Lynn Gardner tossed a five-inning one-hitter in the front end of the two contests before picking up the save in the series finale. Western Carolina fell to 13-19 overall and 1-5 in league play with the two losses.
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Game 1: Mercer 9, Western Carolina 0 (5 innings)
Mercer wasted little time getting ahead with its first lead of the series on Saturday. An RBI single by Danielle Castleberry scored Micayla Rood, who led off with a double down the left field line, in the first inning. The Bears then added five runs on five hits in the third frame to take a 6-0 lead. Castleberry and Shaila Warren launched home runs in the inning while Amanda Schwartz and Catie Josselet added RBI singles.
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The lead was all Lynn Gardner needed to work comfortably in the circle. The freshman left-hander allowed just one hit through five innings and did not allow a baserunner past second base while striking out three Catamounts.
Â
Mercer put the game away in the fourth when Schwartz was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and Josselet smacked a two-run double into the left-center gap. Castleberry (2-for-3), Josselet (2-for-3) and Warren (2-for-2) all had two hits apiece to lead the Bears.
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Pitchers of Record
» Win: Lynn Gardner (7-7)
» Loss: Kinsey Liscio (7-5)
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Game 2: Mercer 6, Western Carolina 4
The Bears scored at least one run in each of the first five innings and led by as many as six runs (6-0) heading into the sixth frame. Megan Lane provided some pop in the middle of the lineup, connecting on her second home run of the season – a solo shot – in the fifth after providing a RBI single in the third. She went 2-for-3 with a pair of RBI.
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Bailey Pattison, who earned the win with 5.2 innings pitched, did not allow a Catamount to reach second base until the fifth inning. Western Carolina snuck back into the contest after a throwing error extended the fifth inning, giving way to a three-run double by a pinch hitter. Pattison was relieved by Gardner, who allowed an RBI double that made it a 6-4 game. Gardner settled in, however, and retired the side in the seventh.
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Mercer added runs earlier in the game on sacrifice flies by Abby Walsh and Amanda Schwartz as well as a safety squeeze bunt by Kenlie Harvey.
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Pitchers of Record
» Win: Bailey Pattison (8-8)
» Save: Lynn Gardner (2)
» Loss: Shaina Reed (4-10)
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Notables
» Warren's home run in the front end of the doubleheader was her first of the season.
» Warren collected four hits on the day.
» Abby Walsh extended her hit streak to five games.
» Four Bears – Castleberry, Walsh, Warren and Jones – have reached base in five straight games.
» Gardner's five-inning performance in game one of the doubleheader was her eighth complete game.
» Laurenne Sanchez stole one base after reaching on a hit-by-pitch as a pinch hitter in the first game.
» Mercer drew five walks in the first game, including three by Abby Walsh.
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Records Update
» Mercer: 15-21 (2-1 SoCon)
» Western Carolina: 13-19 (1-5 SoCon)
                                         Â
Follow the BearsÂ
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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