Mercer Comeback Falls Short Against EKU

Sunday, February 9

Macon, Ga.

1:30 PM

Mercer University

1-4

Eastern Kentucky

3-1

Eastern Kentucky

Mercer

Photo by: Alex Keller

2/9/2020 6:39:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

The Bears went 1-4 at the Mercer Invitational

By: Stephen Waldman

MACON, Ga. – The Mercer softball team was unable to complete its comeback against Eastern Kentucky, falling to the Colonels 5-4 in the final game of the Mercer Invitational on Sunday at Sikes Field.

The Bears generated six hits in their weekend finale while drawing five walks in the game. Micayla Rood reached base a team-high three times with a hit and two walks, while Abby Walsh and Allie Jones reached twice. Walsh slugged a triple as the team's only extra-base hit of the day. Jones scored two of Mercer's four runs in the game while recording the only stolen base for the home side.

Amber Byrd tossed a 112-pitch complete game, allowing five runs (two earned) on nine hits. The Jackson, Tenn., native did not issue a walk while fanning four Colonels.

How It Happened
Mercer drew first blood in the second inning after Jones reached on a leadoff walk. She booked it from first-to-third on a sacrifice before scoring on a Bree Comer groundout to short. EKU managed to take the lead in the following inning with a 3-run home run by Carly Robinson and extended the advantage to 5-1 by the end of the fourth inning.

The Bears made a push in the sixth inning that started with Walsh roping a leadoff triple into the right field corner. Jones followed by beating out an infield single to score Walsh before Rachel Baker shot a single up the middle to force a pitching change for EKU. With runners on the corner, Mercer was able to get creative on the base paths as it allowed Jones to steal home. Kenlie Harvey added a single to put runners on first and second for Rood who singled in Comer to cut the deficit to one, 5-4.

That would be as close as the Bears would get, however, as the Colonels were able to get out of the jam and hang on for the win.

Notables
» Walsh recorded her fifth career triple.
» Jones scored her 50th career run.
» Jones is currently riding a team-best four-game hitting streak.
» Jones and Rood were the only Mercer players to reach base in every game this weekend.
» Rood has reached base in eight consecutive games dating back to last season.
» Baker improved to a perfect 2-for-2 as a pinch hitter.

Up Next
The Bears return to the diamond on Wednesday as they travel down to Georgia Southern for a 6 p.m. contest.

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.