Mercer Drops Pair of Hard-Fought Games on Sunday

Sunday, March 21

Murfreesboro, Tenn.

11 a.m. (ET)

Mercer University

12-11

Western Illinois

9-10

Mercer

Western Illinois

Photo by: Mitch Robinson

Mercer Drops Pair of Hard-Fought Games on Sunday

3/22/2021 4:09:00 AM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Allie Jones recorded her second triple of the season in game one

By: Stephen Waldman

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – The Mercer softball team dropped a pair of hard-fought games against Western Illinois and Middle Tennessee State on Sunday at the Blue Raider Softball Field.

Seven different Bears recorded a hit on the day with three extra-base hits. Allie Jones recorded a triple, while Elisa Rosado and Bree Comer hustled their way to a double in game one against the Fighting Leathernecks. Mercer's other hits came off the bats of Diamond Williams, Annie Potter, Danielle Castleberry and Adele Braun.

In the circle, freshman Madi Joice suffered the hard-luck loss in game two against the host Blue Raiders, allowing just one run on four hits in 6.0 innings of work in a complete game effort.

Game One: Western Illinois 9, Mercer 2
Western Illinois jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the first inning after an RBI single by Kellie Marcheschi broke the scoreless tie. Sydney Hollings extended the designated home team's lead two batters later with a two-run home run to left.

Jones sparked Mercer's offense in the top of the second as she led off the inning with a triple into the right-center field gap. She scored two batters later when Williams grounded out to first base to cut the Bears' deficit to two, 3-1. WIU responded in the home half of the frame, however, as a two-run double by Piper Foote extended WIU's lead to 5-1.

Western Illinois appeared to be threatening in the third inning after putting a pair of runners on base with one out, but reliever Amber Byrd sat down the next two Fighting Leathernecks to escape the inning unscathed. WIU had a similar situation in the fifth inning as well, but Byrd was once again up to the task as she picked up two more strikeouts to finish the inning without allowing any runs.

Mercer broke through for its second run of the game in the sixth inning that started with a Rosado double to left center. Two batters later, Castleberry worked a 3-1 count before slashing an RBI single down the right field line.

WIU would once again respond by increasing its lead in the bottom of an inning that Mercer scores in the top half. Back-to-back singles led off the inning before a one-out walk loaded the bases. The Bears recorded the second out of the inning by punching out Savannah Rodriguez, but Hollings sent the 2-2 offering over the fence in left for a grand slam to put Western Illinois up, 9-2. Comer lined a double to the opposite field in the top of the seventh, but Mercer was unable to mount a comeback.

Game Two: Middle Tennessee State 1, Mercer 0
The Bears' final tune up before starting SoCon play was a pitcher's duel as the two sides combined for just five hits in a 1-0 decision that lasted just 1:19. MTSU's Corrina Dodd was impressive in the circle as she carried a perfect game into the fifth inning before Braun shot a one-out single back up the middle on the first pitch of the at-bat.

Not to be outdone, Joice retired six consecutive MTSU hitters after allowing a leadoff single in the first. The home side pushed across the game's only run in the third inning after starting the frame with a single and a hit-by-pitch. After they were sacrificed up 60 feet, Kelci Hill hit a sac fly to center field that scored Lani Rodriguez from third. Mercer was able to prevent any farther damage as it caught Tath-Slezak too far off of second base as Jones threw behind the runner to get the final out of the inning at second.

Mercer fought back in the seventh as Micayla Rood used her speed to force a defensive miscue, reaching on an error. She was moved up to second before Williams stepped in as a pinch hitter and was hit by a pitch to put the potential go-ahead run on base. That would be as close as the Bears would come to drawing even with the Blue Raiders, however, as a fly out and a strikeout ended the game.

Notables
» Allie Jones recorded her second triple of the season and seventh in her career.
» Jones played in her 150th game at Mercer.
» Elisa Rosado scored her 20th run in 24 games this season.
» Rosado notched her 35th career run scored.
» Adele Braun broke up a perfect game bid in the fifth inning against MTSU.
» Madi Joice tossed her team-leading fourth complete game of the season.
» Amber Byrd struck out at least seven hitters for the second time this season.

Up Next
The Bears open Southern Conference play next weekend as they travel to Samford for a three-game set. The two teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday before closing out the first conference series of the season on Sunday. First pitch for both days is scheduled for 2 p.m. (ET).

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.