Friday, February 14
Madeira Beach, Fla.
4 PM
Mercer University
2-5
4
vs
1
Monmouth
0-1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Mercer
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
3
4
7
0
Monmouth
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
4
0
Photo by: Alex Keller
Bears Excite with Two Wins on Valentine’s Day
2/14/2020 11:05:00 PM | Softball
Kenlie Harvey slugged a walk-off three-run home run against Akron in Game Two
MADEIRA BEACH, Fla. – The Mercer softball team earned a pair of thrilling victories over Monmouth and Akron on Friday on the first day of the Madeira Beach Tournament.
The Bears began the day by taking an extra-inning affair against the Hawks, 4-1, before sophomore Kenlie Harvey provided the heroics in game two as her walk-off three-run home run sent Mercer to a 10-7 victory.
Mercer's offense was led by Sarah Taylor and Danielle Castleberry, who both went 4-for-7 on the evening, including 3-of-4 performances against Akron. Taylor slugged her first career home run and scored two runs while driving in three RBI. Castleberry totaled two runs, two RBI and one stolen base. Micayla Rood added three hits out of the leadoff position with a double, four RBI, two walks and a run scored.
In the circle, Amber Byrd impressed in game one with a nine-inning complete game. The Jackson, Tenn., native scattered four hits, three walks and one unearned run as she earned her first victory in a Bears uniform. In game two, Bailey Pattison collected her second win of the year with a complete game of her own.
Game One: Mercer 4, Monmouth 1 (9 Innings)
Despite neither team being able to break the scoreless draw through the first seven innings, the Bears were able to generate multiple scoring chances. Castleberry created the first of those chances in the top of the first inning when she reached on a hit by pitch with two outs. She stole second and attempted to score on an Allie Jones single, but the Hawks' center fielder made a picture perfect throw home to get out of the inning.
Mercer threatened again in the third when Taylor laced the first pitch of the inning into left center. Rood followed up with a walk before Elisa Rosado sacrificed them to second and third. Monmouth was able to utilize its defense to get out of another tough jam, however, as a double play ended the inning.
Byrd was working quickly and efficiently through the first three innings as she needed a combined 28 pitches to get through the entire Hawks' lineup. She allowed her first base runner with a leadoff walk in the fourth inning and lost the no-hit bid in the fifth when Erika Coreth singled to right field.
The Bears received a scare in the bottom of the seventh when Monmouth loaded the bases with one out to put the potential game-winning run 60 feet away. Byrd induced a ground ball back to the circle and fired home to prevent the run from scoring before ending the inning with a Rosado catch in foul territory in left to send the game into extras.
Mercer broke the scoreless drought in the eighth when Rood reached on a fielder's choice that scored Rachel Baker from third, but Monmouth responded in the home half to keep the game going. With Jones on second due to the international tie break rule, Abby Walsh led off with a bunt single to put runners on the corners. She stole second before rookie Sophie Sumner recorded her first collegiate base hit with an RBI single through the left side to allow the Bears to retake the lead, 2-1. The Black and Orange added to their lead with a two-run single by Rood that plated Harvey and Baker to add some insurance runs.
That cushion would be all the help Byrd needed as she retired the Hawks in order in the ninth to secure the victory.
Game Two: Mercer 10, Akron 7
The second game started much differently than the first as Taylor opened the scoring with her first career home run in the second inning to hand Mercer an early 1-0 lead. Akron responded in the top of the following inning when Sydney Jascoe hit a three-run shot to give the Zips a 3-1 advantage.
Mercer began to chip away at the deficit in the fourth inning when a Walsh single to center allowed Castleberry to score from second and cut it down to a one-run game. The Bears recaptured the lead in the fifth inning when Castleberry drilled the ball to second that scored two runs due to the hustle of Rood who never broke stride from second base. Taylor increased the lead later in the frame with an RBI single that plated Castleberry to put Mercer ahead, 5-3.
Akron made it a 5-4 game thanks to a home run by Jaiden Bryant in the top of the sixth, but the Bears responded in the home half of the inning when Briana Rodriguez scored on an RBI double by Rood.
Things did not look good for Mercer after Jascoe gave the Zips a 7-6 lead with her second three-run homer of the game in the top of the seventh.
The bottom of the seventh started with Castleberry legging out an infield single before Jones slotted a single up the middle. A fly out and caught stealing had the Bears down to their last out before Taylor came through in the clutch with a game-tying RBI single that scored Jones. Sumner kept the inning alive with an infield single that put runners on the corners for Harvey. After watching two pitches miss the plate, she teed up the next offering and blasted the pitch over the center field wall for a walk-off three-run bomb to send the Bears' faithful home happy.
Notables
» Taylor recorded her first career hit against Monmouth before posting the first multi-hit game of her career versus Akron.
» Taylor blasted her first career home run against Akron.
» Harvey slugged the first walk-off home run of her career against Akron.
» Byrd documented her first career win at Mercer.
» Rood collected her team-leading fourth multi-hit game of the year in game two.
» Rood tallied her 10th career double in the game.
» Rosado extended her hitting streak to four games.
» Castleberry swiped her 10th career stolen base versus Monmouth.
» Castleberry posted her third multi-hit game of the season against Akron.
» Sumner notched her first career hit, RBI and stolen base against Monmouth.
» Pattison recorded a season-high five strikeouts in the game.
» Tori Ash drew her 10th career walk.
Up Next
The Bears continue play at the Madeira Beach Tournament with a 4 p.m. matchup against Presbyterian on Saturday.
Follow the Bears
For complete coverage of Mercer Softball, please follow the Bears on social media at @MercerUSoftball (Twitter), /MUSoftball (Facebook) and @MercerUSoftball (Instagram) or visit the official home of Mercer Athletics at MercerBears.com.
The Bears began the day by taking an extra-inning affair against the Hawks, 4-1, before sophomore Kenlie Harvey provided the heroics in game two as her walk-off three-run home run sent Mercer to a 10-7 victory.
Mercer's offense was led by Sarah Taylor and Danielle Castleberry, who both went 4-for-7 on the evening, including 3-of-4 performances against Akron. Taylor slugged her first career home run and scored two runs while driving in three RBI. Castleberry totaled two runs, two RBI and one stolen base. Micayla Rood added three hits out of the leadoff position with a double, four RBI, two walks and a run scored.
In the circle, Amber Byrd impressed in game one with a nine-inning complete game. The Jackson, Tenn., native scattered four hits, three walks and one unearned run as she earned her first victory in a Bears uniform. In game two, Bailey Pattison collected her second win of the year with a complete game of her own.
Game One: Mercer 4, Monmouth 1 (9 Innings)
Despite neither team being able to break the scoreless draw through the first seven innings, the Bears were able to generate multiple scoring chances. Castleberry created the first of those chances in the top of the first inning when she reached on a hit by pitch with two outs. She stole second and attempted to score on an Allie Jones single, but the Hawks' center fielder made a picture perfect throw home to get out of the inning.
Mercer threatened again in the third when Taylor laced the first pitch of the inning into left center. Rood followed up with a walk before Elisa Rosado sacrificed them to second and third. Monmouth was able to utilize its defense to get out of another tough jam, however, as a double play ended the inning.
Byrd was working quickly and efficiently through the first three innings as she needed a combined 28 pitches to get through the entire Hawks' lineup. She allowed her first base runner with a leadoff walk in the fourth inning and lost the no-hit bid in the fifth when Erika Coreth singled to right field.
The Bears received a scare in the bottom of the seventh when Monmouth loaded the bases with one out to put the potential game-winning run 60 feet away. Byrd induced a ground ball back to the circle and fired home to prevent the run from scoring before ending the inning with a Rosado catch in foul territory in left to send the game into extras.
Mercer broke the scoreless drought in the eighth when Rood reached on a fielder's choice that scored Rachel Baker from third, but Monmouth responded in the home half to keep the game going. With Jones on second due to the international tie break rule, Abby Walsh led off with a bunt single to put runners on the corners. She stole second before rookie Sophie Sumner recorded her first collegiate base hit with an RBI single through the left side to allow the Bears to retake the lead, 2-1. The Black and Orange added to their lead with a two-run single by Rood that plated Harvey and Baker to add some insurance runs.
That cushion would be all the help Byrd needed as she retired the Hawks in order in the ninth to secure the victory.
Game Two: Mercer 10, Akron 7
The second game started much differently than the first as Taylor opened the scoring with her first career home run in the second inning to hand Mercer an early 1-0 lead. Akron responded in the top of the following inning when Sydney Jascoe hit a three-run shot to give the Zips a 3-1 advantage.
Mercer began to chip away at the deficit in the fourth inning when a Walsh single to center allowed Castleberry to score from second and cut it down to a one-run game. The Bears recaptured the lead in the fifth inning when Castleberry drilled the ball to second that scored two runs due to the hustle of Rood who never broke stride from second base. Taylor increased the lead later in the frame with an RBI single that plated Castleberry to put Mercer ahead, 5-3.
Akron made it a 5-4 game thanks to a home run by Jaiden Bryant in the top of the sixth, but the Bears responded in the home half of the inning when Briana Rodriguez scored on an RBI double by Rood.
Things did not look good for Mercer after Jascoe gave the Zips a 7-6 lead with her second three-run homer of the game in the top of the seventh.
The bottom of the seventh started with Castleberry legging out an infield single before Jones slotted a single up the middle. A fly out and caught stealing had the Bears down to their last out before Taylor came through in the clutch with a game-tying RBI single that scored Jones. Sumner kept the inning alive with an infield single that put runners on the corners for Harvey. After watching two pitches miss the plate, she teed up the next offering and blasted the pitch over the center field wall for a walk-off three-run bomb to send the Bears' faithful home happy.
Notables
» Taylor recorded her first career hit against Monmouth before posting the first multi-hit game of her career versus Akron.
» Taylor blasted her first career home run against Akron.
» Harvey slugged the first walk-off home run of her career against Akron.
» Byrd documented her first career win at Mercer.
» Rood collected her team-leading fourth multi-hit game of the year in game two.
» Rood tallied her 10th career double in the game.
» Rosado extended her hitting streak to four games.
» Castleberry swiped her 10th career stolen base versus Monmouth.
» Castleberry posted her third multi-hit game of the season against Akron.
» Sumner notched her first career hit, RBI and stolen base against Monmouth.
» Pattison recorded a season-high five strikeouts in the game.
» Tori Ash drew her 10th career walk.
Up Next
The Bears continue play at the Madeira Beach Tournament with a 4 p.m. matchup against Presbyterian on Saturday.
Follow the Bears
For complete coverage of Mercer Softball, please follow the Bears on social media at @MercerUSoftball (Twitter), /MUSoftball (Facebook) and @MercerUSoftball (Instagram) or visit the official home of Mercer Athletics at MercerBears.com.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Byrd, Amber (1-2)
L: Irons, A. (0-1)
Batting:
RBI: Rood, Micayla 3 ; Sumner, Sophie 1
SH: Rosado, Elisa 1 ; Harvey, Kenlie 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Jones, Allie 1 ; Baker, Rachel 2 ; Harvey, Kenlie 1
SB: Castleberry, Danielle 1 ; Walsh, Abby 1 ; Sumner, Sophie 1
CS: Rood, Micayla 1
HBP: Castleberry, Danielle 1 ; Taylor, Sarah 1
Batting:
2B: Tomasetti, S 1
RBI: Tomasetti, S 1
SH: Harrington 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Maziarz, M. 1
CS: Coreth, E. 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
3
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
INF
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/ Softball
INF
/ SoftballOF
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P
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OF
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C
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
OF
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