Mercer to Compete in War Eagle Challenge

Friday, March 8

Auburn, Ala.

4:30 P.M.

Mercer University

Auburn

3/7/2019 12:43:00 PM | Softball

The Bears will play five games this weekend

By: Gerrit W. Van Genderen

UPDATE: Due to expected inclement weather in the Auburn, Ala., area throughout the weekend, the War Eagle Challenge schedule has been altered. Please take note of Mercer's updated five-game schedule below.

MACON, Ga. – Mercer will travel to Auburn, Ala. to compete in the Auburn-hosted War Eagle Challenge this weekend, where it will face Louisville, Radford, Michigan State and the Tigers.

The Bears (10-10) will play five games throughout the weekend, beginning on Friday when they face host Auburn at 4:30 p.m. A full look at Mercer's five-game schedule in Auburn is listed below.

UPDATED TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

Friday, 4:30 p.m. - at Auburn
Friday, 7 p.m. - vs. Michigan State
Saturday, 11:30 a.m. - vs. Radford
Saturday, 7 p.m. - vs. Michigan State
Sunday, 10 a.m. - vs. Louisville

TOURNAMENT OUTLOOK
Date: Friday, March 8 – Sunday, March 10
Location: Auburn, Ala. | Jane B. Moore Field
Teams: Mercer (10-10), Louisville (11-6), Radford (6-9), Michigan State (5-12), Auburn (16-4)
Live Stats: Provided at the start of each game
Twitter Updates: @MercerUSoftball

NOTABLES

Mercer owns a 10-10 record after sweeping the Red and Black Challenge in Boiling Springs, N.C. last weekend. Mercer beat Wright State (twice), South Carolina State and Gardner-Webb.
Mercer leads the SoCon in stolen bases per game (1.79) and ranks second in double per game (1.63).
Danielle Castleberry ranks eighth nationally in the hit by pitch category (9).
Allie Jones leads the SoCon with 25 hits. She has a .397 batting average and 13 RBIs for the season. Jones ranks second in the league with eight stolen bases.
Micayla Rood leads the SoCon with nine stolen bases and leads Mercer with 19 runs scored.
Freshman Lynn Gardner owns six wins in the circle. She's tossed 61.1 innings over nine appearances and has struck out 33 batters.
Fellow freshman pitcher Bailey Pattison has 29 strikeouts.
Mercer trails Auburn 4-18 all-time and last faced the Tigers in 2017.
The Bears lead Michigan State 2-1 all-time, earning both wins on March 13-14, 2015.
Mercer leads Radford 7-3 all-time, last defeating the Highlanders, 3-2, at home last season.
This weekend will be the first time the Bears have played Louisville.

SCOUTING LOUISVILLE
The Cardinals are 11-6 after competing in the Titan Classic, ACC/Big Ten Challenge, Tennessee Classic and Cardinal Classic. Louisville is led by Celene Funke who has totaled 19 hits this season and owns a .333 batting average. Megan Hensley is Louisville's top arm in the circle with a 2.08 ERA, 42 strikeouts and 37 innings pitched.

SCOUTING RADFORD
The Highlanders are led offensively by Sydney Fisher (.446 batting average), who owns 25 hits and 11 RBIs. Brooke Bond has notched three home runs this season to lead the team. Jessie Marvin tops the Highlanders with a 3.32 ERA, despite a 2-3 record.

SCOUTING MICHIGAN STATE
Three of Michigan State's five wins came in the FIU-hosted Felsberg Invitational against the Panthers, Bryant and Memphis before grabbing two wins over St. Francis (Pa.) in the Easton Crimson Classic at Alabama. Charla Echols leads the Spartans with a .419 batting average, including 18 hits, nine RBIs and 12 runs.

SCOUTING AUBURN
Auburn is 16-4 after playing in the Sand Dollar Classic, Plainsman Invitational, Tiger Invitational and Judi Garman Classic. The Tigers dropped contests to Louisiana Tech (1-2), Missouri State (3-4) Texas Tech (4-5) and Washington (6-8).

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.