Saturday, February 27
Macon, Ga.
12:30 p.m.
Mercer University
4-6
3
vs
2
Pittsburgh
4-7
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
R
H
E
Pitt
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
2
6
4
Mercer
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
0
1
3
5
1
Photo by: Mitch Robinson
Bears Sweep Pitt, AAMU at Black & Orange Challenge
2/28/2021 12:31:00 AM | Softball
Adele Braun recorded a pair of triples on the second day of the tournament
ÂMACON, Ga. – The Mercer softball team split its games against Alabama A&M and Pitt on the first day of the Black & Orange Challenge on Friday at Sikes Field.
Â
Danielle Castleberry recorded a team-high four hits on the day, including a double, while scoring three runs and driving in two more. Kylie Helm and Bree Comer both slugged a home run on the second day of the tournament. Rookie Adele Braun went 2-for-4 on the day with a pair of triples while driving in four runs.
Â
In the circle, Madi Joice picked up the win against Pitt by tossing eight innings in relief, allowing just two unearned runs on three hits while fanning four Panthers. Amber Byrd earned the win in the night cap against Alabama A&M after going four innings. Byrd surrendered one unearned run on two hits while striking out three.
Game One: Mercer 3, Pitt 2 (12 Inn.)
The Bears and Panthers were locked in a pitcher's duel in the second game of the day with Pitt pushing across the first run of the game in the top of the fifth. Mercer's response came in the home half of the seventh as Comer brought the Bears faithful fans to their feet by slugging the game-tying home run over the center field wall. The Black & Orange continued to threaten as Micayla Rood got on base with an infield hit and advanced to second when Elisa Rosado reached on an error. A sacrifice bunt moved the go-ahead run 60 feet away, but the Pitt defense held on to force extra innings.
Â
Pitt took a 2-1 lead in the top of the eighth on a sacrifice fly, but the Bears answered as Braun pushed across the tying run by reaching on an error. Mercer nearly ended the game in the 11th inning as Comer hit a fly ball to left field, but a great throw by Katlyn Pavlick retired the runner at home and forced the game into the 12th inning.
Â
After keeping the Panthers off the board for the fourth-straight inning, the home team found the answer and came away with the victory. Sophie Sumner sacrificed her own at-bat to move Comer up to third base for pinch-hitter Kylie Helm who laced a single into center field to earn the hard-fought, walk-off victory.
Game Two: Mercer 13, Alabama A&M 1 (5 Inn.)
Mercer jumped out to an early 2-0 lead after the first inning as Rosado scored on a wild pitch and Rood crossed the plate thanks to a defensive miscue by the Bulldogs. After Alabama A&M cut the deficit in half in the top of the second, a three-run three-bagger by Braun extended the home team's advantage to four runs at 5-1. A sacrifice fly by Rosado scored Allie Jones in the third to make it 6-1 before the Bears exploded for seven runs in the fourth.
Â
The Bears hit for the cycle in four-consecutive at-bats as the inning started with a Castleberry single up the middle. Diamond Williams entered the game as a pinch hitter and hustled to a double through the right side that scored Castleberry. Braun was up next and slashed her second triple of the game, plating Williams from second, before Helm completed the team-cycle with a two-home run to left field. Helm's long ball gave the Bears a 10-1 edge. Rood added an RBI single later in the frame and Castleberry added a two-run double to cap the scoring for the home team.
Â
Hickok entered the game for the Bears in the top of the fifth and set down Alabama A&M in order to secure the victory.
Notables
» Mercer improved to 5-1 at Sikes Field this season.
» The Bears earned their first run-rule victory of the year.
» Comer slugged her first collegiate home run.
» Helm blasted her second career home run.
» Braun legged out the first two triples of her career.Â
Â
Up Next
The Bears close out the Black & Orange Challenge on Sunday as they take on Toledo at 10 a.m.
Â
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.
Â
Â
Danielle Castleberry recorded a team-high four hits on the day, including a double, while scoring three runs and driving in two more. Kylie Helm and Bree Comer both slugged a home run on the second day of the tournament. Rookie Adele Braun went 2-for-4 on the day with a pair of triples while driving in four runs.
Â
In the circle, Madi Joice picked up the win against Pitt by tossing eight innings in relief, allowing just two unearned runs on three hits while fanning four Panthers. Amber Byrd earned the win in the night cap against Alabama A&M after going four innings. Byrd surrendered one unearned run on two hits while striking out three.
Game One: Mercer 3, Pitt 2 (12 Inn.)
The Bears and Panthers were locked in a pitcher's duel in the second game of the day with Pitt pushing across the first run of the game in the top of the fifth. Mercer's response came in the home half of the seventh as Comer brought the Bears faithful fans to their feet by slugging the game-tying home run over the center field wall. The Black & Orange continued to threaten as Micayla Rood got on base with an infield hit and advanced to second when Elisa Rosado reached on an error. A sacrifice bunt moved the go-ahead run 60 feet away, but the Pitt defense held on to force extra innings.
Â
Pitt took a 2-1 lead in the top of the eighth on a sacrifice fly, but the Bears answered as Braun pushed across the tying run by reaching on an error. Mercer nearly ended the game in the 11th inning as Comer hit a fly ball to left field, but a great throw by Katlyn Pavlick retired the runner at home and forced the game into the 12th inning.
Â
After keeping the Panthers off the board for the fourth-straight inning, the home team found the answer and came away with the victory. Sophie Sumner sacrificed her own at-bat to move Comer up to third base for pinch-hitter Kylie Helm who laced a single into center field to earn the hard-fought, walk-off victory.
Game Two: Mercer 13, Alabama A&M 1 (5 Inn.)
Mercer jumped out to an early 2-0 lead after the first inning as Rosado scored on a wild pitch and Rood crossed the plate thanks to a defensive miscue by the Bulldogs. After Alabama A&M cut the deficit in half in the top of the second, a three-run three-bagger by Braun extended the home team's advantage to four runs at 5-1. A sacrifice fly by Rosado scored Allie Jones in the third to make it 6-1 before the Bears exploded for seven runs in the fourth.
Â
The Bears hit for the cycle in four-consecutive at-bats as the inning started with a Castleberry single up the middle. Diamond Williams entered the game as a pinch hitter and hustled to a double through the right side that scored Castleberry. Braun was up next and slashed her second triple of the game, plating Williams from second, before Helm completed the team-cycle with a two-home run to left field. Helm's long ball gave the Bears a 10-1 edge. Rood added an RBI single later in the frame and Castleberry added a two-run double to cap the scoring for the home team.
Â
Hickok entered the game for the Bears in the top of the fifth and set down Alabama A&M in order to secure the victory.
Notables
» Mercer improved to 5-1 at Sikes Field this season.
» The Bears earned their first run-rule victory of the year.
» Comer slugged her first collegiate home run.
» Helm blasted her second career home run.
» Braun legged out the first two triples of her career.Â
Â
Up Next
The Bears close out the Black & Orange Challenge on Sunday as they take on Toledo at 10 a.m.
Â
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.
Â
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Byrd, Amber (1-2)
L: M. Danner (0-2)
Batting:
RBI: E. Coe 1
Base Running:
RUNS: R. McKinney 1
SB: R. McKinney 1
HBP: R. McKinney 1
Batting:
2B: Castleberry, Danielle 1 ; Williams, Diamond 1
3B: Braun, Adele 2
HR: Helm, Kylie 1
RBI: Rosado, Elisa 1 ; Rood, Micayla 1 ; Castleberry, Danielle 2 ; Williams, Diamond 1 ; Braun, Adele 4 ; Helm, Kylie 2
SF: Rosado, Elisa 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Rosado, Elisa 3 ; Rood, Micayla 3 ; Castleberry, Danielle 2 ; Williams, Diamond 1 ; Braun, Adele 1 ; Helm, Kylie 1 ; Jones, Allie 1 ; Potter, Annie 1
SB: Rosado, Elisa 1 ; Rood, Micayla 1 ; Jones, Allie 2 ; Potter, Annie 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
2
H
3
RBI
2
AB
3
R
3
H
2
RBI
1
AB
2
R
1
H
2
RBI
4
ph/1b
AB
2
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
INF
/ Softball
P
/ SoftballINF/OF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
C/INF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
C
/ SoftballUTIL
/ SoftballMercer VS UNCG MSOC SoCon Semifinal 11-9-25
Monday, November 10
Mercer v Lipscomb MBB Highlight Reel: 11/9/2025
Monday, November 10
Mercer 49 | Western Carolina 47 Post Game Press Conference (11.08.25)
Sunday, November 09
Mercer vs Wofford Volleyball Highlight Tape 11-8-25
Sunday, November 09
