Jones’ Late Heroics Lifts Mercer Past Presbyterian

Sunday, February 23

Macon, Ga.

1:30 PM

Mercer University

8-8

Presbyterian

9-4

Presbyterian

Mercer

Photo by: Alex Keller

Jones’ Late Heroics Lifts Mercer Past Presbyterian

2/23/2020 6:48:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

Mercer finished the Black & Orange Challenge with a 3-1 record

By: Stephen Waldman

MACON, Ga. – Junior Allie Jones of the Mercer softball team provided the heroics with a two-run triple in the bottom of the sixth inning to send the team to a 4-2 victory over Presbyterian in the final game of the Black & Orange Challenge on Sunday at Sikes Field.

Jones made her 100th start in a Bears' uniform a memorable one as she drove in what turned out to be the game-winning run in the sixth. The Calhoun, Ga., native recorded one of the Bears' five hits in the game as Danielle Castleberry and Elisa Rosado added multi-hit performances. Both players finished 2-for-3 with Castleberry earning a double, an RBI and a run scored. Rosado scored two runs in the game to lead the team. Micayla Rood drew a walk, stole two bases and scored a run.

Amber Byrd was dominant in the circle for the Bears as she went the distance for the fourth time in five starts. The Jackson, Tenn., native scattered two runs (one earned) on two hits and one walk while striking out a season-high five hitters. Byrd retired the first nine Blue Hose hitters she faced and carried a no-hit bid through 4.1 innings.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Bears put pressure on Presbyterian early when Rosado reached on a one-out single to shortstop. She was able to advance to second before the end of the play as she caught the Blue Hose defense sleeping and not covering the base. Castleberry stepped into the box and, after working a 2-0 count, hooked an RBI double down the right field line to score Rosado.

Rood turned up the heat on the Blue Hose defense in the third inning after drawing a two-out walk on four pitches. She swiped stole second and third on consecutive pitches to Rosado, scoring on an errant throw by the catcher on the second attempt.

Byrd was dealing early, recording three 1-2-3 innings to start the game while striking out five of the first nine hitters she faced. She ran into a bit of trouble in the fourth inning when an error, stolen base and fielder's choice put runners on the corners, but the Jackson, Tenn., native worked out of danger by stabbing a line drive by Lath Freeman and flipping to Diamond Williams at first for the inning-ending double play.

Presbyterian cut Mercer's lead in half and broke up Byrd's no-hit bid with one out in the fifth inning when Layna Johnson hit a home run to left field. The visitors went on to tie the game in the top of the sixth inning at two apiece.

The Bears' bats came alive in the home half of the inning as Elisa Rosado sparked a rally with a two-out single. Castleberry fired a single to left on the next pitch to put runners on first and second for Jones. After looking at the first pitch, Jones smashed the ball into the gap in right-center field. She was on her horse out of the box and hustled her way into third base ahead of the relay throw to put the Bears back on top, 4-2.

Byrd and the Mercer defense took care of the rest as they closed out the game to secure the victory to close out the tournament.

Notables
» Mercer has won four of its last five games.
» Castleberry recorded her sixth-straight multi-hit game.
» Castleberry leads the team with nine multi-hit games and 22 hits.
» She has reached base in 11 consecutive games.
» Rosado posted her fourth multi-hit game of the season.
» Jones earned her 100th career start as a Bear.
» Jones belted her third career triple.
» Jones' third multi-RBI game put her in a tie with Kenlie Harvey and Kylie Helm for the team lead.
» Byrd improved to 3-2 on the season with her fourth complete game.
» Byrd fanned a season-high five hitters.
» She has now recorded back-to-back complete game victories.

Up Next
The Bears head to the Alabama State Tournament next weekend to play Nicholls State, Southern Miss and host Alabama State. Mercer's opens the event against Nicholls State (1:30 p.m. ET) and Alabama State (6:30 p.m. ET) on Friday before taking on Southern Miss (10 a.m. ET) and Nicholls State (3 p.m. ET) on Saturday. The Bears wrap up the tournament against Southern Miss (10 a.m. ET) on Sunday.

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.