Friday, February 21
Macon, Ga.
5:15 p.m.
Mercer University
6-7
13
vs
2
Akron
4-7
1
2
3
4
5
R
H
E
Akron
0
0
0
0
2
2
4
0
Mercer
0
4
7
2
X
13
12
0
Photo by: Alex Keller
Mercer Routs Akron to Open Black & Orange Challenge
2/21/2020 10:32:00 PM | Softball
Amber Byrd matched her season high with four strikeouts against the Zips
MACON, Ga. – The offense was active early and often as Mercer softball scored a season-high 13 runs in a 13-2 run-rule victory over Akron to kick off the Black & Orange Challenge on Friday evening at Sikes Field.
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The Bears received contributions up and down their lineup as Danielle Castleberry, Allie Jones, Tori Ash, Rachel Baker and Kenlie Harvey all recorded multiple hits in the win. Baker provided some pop in the bottom of the order for the Bears with a game-high four RBI as well as her first collegiate home run. Jones and Harvey both added doubles to their resumes on the night. Rookie Sarah Taylor reached base in all three of her plate appearances on the night as she was 1-for-1 with a double, two walks, an RBI and two runs scored.
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In the circle, Amber Byrd moved to 2-2 on the season after tossing her third complete game in a Bears' uniform. The Jackson, Tenn., native scattered two runs (earned) on four hits and two walks over 5.0 innings of work. She fanned four Zips in the contest.
How It Happened
The Bears got to their offense early and often in this one as they jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the second inning. A leadoff double and a stolen base by Jones kick started the rally with Abby Walsh driving her in for the first run of the game. Taylor followed that up with a double of her own before Ash shot a single up the middle to put runners on the corners for Baker who belted the first homer of her career over the right-center field wall.
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The offensive barrage increased in the third inning as the first four Mercer hitters reached to extend the home team's lead to 5-0. A bases-loaded wild pitch added another run for the Bears before an Ash groundout plated Walsh to make it a 7-0 contest. Baker shot a single into right field to score Taylor before advancing to second on a wild pitch. Harvey laced a double down the line in right to trade places with Baker before scoring on a Micayla Rood single up the middle. Rood scored the final of the seven runs in the inning for Mercer thanks to an RBI single by Castleberry.
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The Black and Orange padded its double-digit lead in the fourth when pinch runners Kate Buckland and Briana Rodriguez executed a double steal to allow Buckland to cross the plate. Rodriguez later scored on a single by Harvey to cap the scoring for the Bears.
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Akron avoided being shut out with a two-run homer by Tiffany Stevens in the top of the fifth, but Byrd managed to keep the Zips at bay to secure the Mercer win.
Notables
» Mercer improved to 4-0 in games without an error.
» The Bears have scored 10 or more runs in five of their six wins this season.
» Mercer scored a season-high 13 runs tonight.
» Castleberry notched her team-leading sixth multi-hit game of the season.
» Baker slugged the first home run of her career. Â
» Baker posted Mercer's first four RBI game of the year.
» Rood tallied her 20th career stolen base.
» Taylor legged out her first collegiate double.
» Ash drove in the 20th RBI of her career.
» Byrd moved to 2-2 on the season with her fourth complete game of the season.
» Byrd matched her season high with four strikeouts against the Zips.
Up Next
Mercer continues play at the Black & Orange Challenge with a pair of games on Saturday. The Bears will open against Bryant at 2:30 p.m. before taking on Georgia State at 4:45 p.m.
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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.
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The Bears received contributions up and down their lineup as Danielle Castleberry, Allie Jones, Tori Ash, Rachel Baker and Kenlie Harvey all recorded multiple hits in the win. Baker provided some pop in the bottom of the order for the Bears with a game-high four RBI as well as her first collegiate home run. Jones and Harvey both added doubles to their resumes on the night. Rookie Sarah Taylor reached base in all three of her plate appearances on the night as she was 1-for-1 with a double, two walks, an RBI and two runs scored.
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In the circle, Amber Byrd moved to 2-2 on the season after tossing her third complete game in a Bears' uniform. The Jackson, Tenn., native scattered two runs (earned) on four hits and two walks over 5.0 innings of work. She fanned four Zips in the contest.
How It Happened
The Bears got to their offense early and often in this one as they jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the second inning. A leadoff double and a stolen base by Jones kick started the rally with Abby Walsh driving her in for the first run of the game. Taylor followed that up with a double of her own before Ash shot a single up the middle to put runners on the corners for Baker who belted the first homer of her career over the right-center field wall.
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The offensive barrage increased in the third inning as the first four Mercer hitters reached to extend the home team's lead to 5-0. A bases-loaded wild pitch added another run for the Bears before an Ash groundout plated Walsh to make it a 7-0 contest. Baker shot a single into right field to score Taylor before advancing to second on a wild pitch. Harvey laced a double down the line in right to trade places with Baker before scoring on a Micayla Rood single up the middle. Rood scored the final of the seven runs in the inning for Mercer thanks to an RBI single by Castleberry.
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The Black and Orange padded its double-digit lead in the fourth when pinch runners Kate Buckland and Briana Rodriguez executed a double steal to allow Buckland to cross the plate. Rodriguez later scored on a single by Harvey to cap the scoring for the Bears.
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Akron avoided being shut out with a two-run homer by Tiffany Stevens in the top of the fifth, but Byrd managed to keep the Zips at bay to secure the Mercer win.
Notables
» Mercer improved to 4-0 in games without an error.
» The Bears have scored 10 or more runs in five of their six wins this season.
» Mercer scored a season-high 13 runs tonight.
» Castleberry notched her team-leading sixth multi-hit game of the season.
» Baker slugged the first home run of her career. Â
» Baker posted Mercer's first four RBI game of the year.
» Rood tallied her 20th career stolen base.
» Taylor legged out her first collegiate double.
» Ash drove in the 20th RBI of her career.
» Byrd moved to 2-2 on the season with her fourth complete game of the season.
» Byrd matched her season high with four strikeouts against the Zips.
Up Next
Mercer continues play at the Black & Orange Challenge with a pair of games on Saturday. The Bears will open against Bryant at 2:30 p.m. before taking on Georgia State at 4:45 p.m.
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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.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Byrd, Amber (2-2)
L: PETROF, Lexie (1-3)
Batting:
2B: MITCHINER, Macky 1
HR: STEVENS, Tiffany 1
RBI: STEVENS, Tiffany 1
Base Running:
RUNS: CADMUS, Morgan 1 ; STEVENS, Tiffany 1
Batting:
2B: Jones, Allie 1 ; Taylor, Sarah 1 ; Harvey, Kenlie 1
HR: Baker, Rachel 1
RBI: Rood, Micayla 1 ; Castleberry, Danielle 1 ; Walsh, Abby 1 ; Taylor, Sarah 1 ; Ash, Tori 1 ; Baker, Rachel 4 ; Harvey, Kenlie 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Rood, Micayla 1 ; Castleberry, Danielle 1 ; Jones, Allie 2 ; Walsh, Abby 1 ; Taylor, Sarah 2 ; Buckland, Kate 1 ; Ash, Tori 1 ; Rodriguez, Briana 1 ; Baker, Rachel 2 ; Harvey, Kenlie 1
SB: Rood, Micayla 1 ; Jones, Allie 1 ; Rodriguez, Briana 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
3
R
2
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
2
H
2
RBI
4
Players Mentioned
INF
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
P
/ SoftballINF/OF
/ Softball
INF
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
OF
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