Bears Fall to Dayton, Tulsa on Saturday

Saturday, February 8

Macon, Ga.

1:30 PM

Mercer University

1-2

Dayton

2-2

Dayton

Mercer

Photo by: Alex Keller

2/8/2020 11:57:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Micayla Rood recorded her 100th career hit against Tulsa

By: Stephen Waldman

MACON, Ga. – The Mercer softball team dropped a pair of games against Dayton, 9-5, and Tulsa, 5-1, on the second day of the Mercer Invitational Saturday at Sikes Field.

Micayla Rood led the Bears' offense on the day by going a combined 5-for-8 with a run scored and two of multi-hit games. The Buford, Ga., native recorded three hits against Dayton and added two more against Tulsa. Allie Jones finished 2-for-6 on the afternoon with a walk and two stolen bases. Rookie Kylie Helm did not disappoint in her first career start as she finished 2-for-3 with a double, walk and a run scored against Dayton. Amanda Schwartz was effective in turning over the lineup in the 9-hole for the Bears against Dayton, going 3-for-3 with a solo home run in the team's first game of the day.

In the circle, Bailey Pattison turned in another strong performance as she went a complete 7.0 innings against Tulsa. The sophomore right-hander scattered seven runs while allowing five runs (one earned). She struck out four hitters in the game.

Game One: Dayton 9, Mercer 5
Dayton took an early 1-0 lead when Abby Ehrenborg homered to right center in the first inning before adding three more runs in the top of the third. Mercer responded in the home half of the inning, however, to cut the deficit in half. Back-to-back singles by Schwartz and Rood started the rally before advancing to second and third on a groundout to the pitcher. With two outs, Danielle Castleberry's hustle forced the pitcher into an errant throw that allowed pinch-runner Destiny Colgate and Rood to cross the plate.

Ehrenborg hit her second home run of the game in the top of the fourth to increase Dayton's lead to 5-2. Schwartz brought Mercer back within two as she basted a 2-1 pitch over the wall in left center to lead off the inning. Dayton was able to add to its lead in the following frame, however, as Ellie Ziegler recorded the team's third long ball of the day with a two-run home run.

Not to be outdone, Mercer responded with two runs on three hits in the bottom of the sixth. Helm belted the first pitch into the right-center gap for a leadoff double before scoring on a Jones single. After advancing to second on the throw, Jones was able to put pressure on the Flyers' defense as stole third base and scored on the play thanks to a throwing error by the catcher. Dayton had the final response with two runs on three hits in the seventh to put the game out of reach.

Game Two: Tulsa 5, Mercer 1
Similar to the first game, Mercer fell behind before its first at-bat. Chenise Delce gave Tulsa the early lead with a two-out home run. Both pitchers were making it difficult for the opposing offense to get much generated through the first five innings of the game as the two sides combined for just seven hits while striking out nine times.

The visitors increased their lead in the top of the sixth on a sacrifice fly. The Bears responded in the home half of the inning that started with a leadoff double by Castleberry. Jones drove her in two batters later with a single through the left side before stealing second. Unfortunately, she was unable to advance any farther and possibly tie the game as the Flyers got out of the jam.

Tulsa created some separation in the seventh inning when Alexis Perry hit a two-out home run to left and hung on for the victory.

Notables
» Rood posted her second and third multi-hit games of the weekend, including her second three-hit effort.
» The Buford, Ga., native documented her 100th career base hit versus Tulsa.
» Helm notched her first-career multi-hit game against Dayton.
» Abby Walsh recorded her 75th career hit against Tulsa.
» Pattison tossed her ninth career complete game.
» Castleberry tallied the 100th hit of her career on the day as well.

Up Next
The Bears will close out the Mercer Invitational on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. when they take on Eastern Kentucky.

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.