Bears Drop Rubber Match at Samford, 6-4

Saturday, March 27

Birmingham, Ala.

2 p.m. (ET)

Mercer University

13-14, 1-2

Samford

12-15, 2-1

Mercer

Samford

Photo by: Ben Murray

3/27/2021 8:16:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

Micayla Rood went 3-for-4 and scored twice in the series finale

By: Stephen Waldman

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Mercer softball team's comeback bid fell short in the decisive series finale at Samford as the Bears dropped a 6-4 decision on Saturday afternoon.

Micayla Rood and Danielle Castleberry led the Bears with three hits apiece with Castleberry recording the team's only extra-base hit of the game with an RBI double. Rood scored a team-high two runs in the rubber match, while Castleberry drove in two of Mercer's three runs on the day. Allie Jones, Adele Braun and Kylie Helm recorded the rest of the Bears' hits in the game, while Bree Comer drew two walks and drove in a run. Alyssa Woods also earned a walk and scored a run.

How It Happened
The Bears took an early lead in the first inning that saw Elisa Rosado open the game by being hit by a pitch. Rood followed by reaching on a fielder's choice and came around to score from first as Castleberry lined a double into center field. Samford repaid the favor in the home half as Merritt Cahoon hit an RBI double that scored Amanda Briskin to tie the game at 1-1. Whitney Hinton gave the home side a boost in the second inning as she hit a grand slam to make it a 5-1 game.

Mercer started to chip away in the top of the fifth as Woods pinch hit and drew a leadoff walk. Rood picked up her third hit of the game with a bunt single to advance Woods to second before Castleberry singled up the middle to load the bases. Woods scored on the following play as an errant throw from Samford's first baseman allowed the freshman to score the team's second run of the game. Comer earned a bases-loaded free pass two batters later to score Rood and cut Mercer's deficit to two, 5-3.

The Black and Orange continued to fight in the top of the sixth as Kenlie Harvey led off with a walk. Following a pair of fielder's choices, Rood singled up the middle to put runners on first and second for the visitors with two outs in the inning. Castleberry lined a base hit into the gap in left center, scoring Rosado from second and bringing the Bears within one.

Samford added a much-needed insurance run in the bottom of the frame as Cahoon scored Hinton with an RBI single through the left side.

Mercer continued to battle in the seventh inning as Diamond Williams walked and Kylie Helm earned a pinch-hit single, but the visiting squad was unable to draw even as Samford came away with the 6-4 win to take the series, 2-1.

Notables
» Mercer out-hit the Bulldogs, 9-8.
» The Bears played error-free softball for the 11th time this season.
» Rood scored the 100th run of her career.
» Rood posted her team-leading ninth multi-hit game of the season and third game with three hits.
» Castleberry tallied her team-leading 29th hit of the season.
» Castleberry drove in the 80th RBI of her career.
» Castleberry recorded her seventh double of the season, matching her single-season high from each of the past two seasons.
» Castleberry documented her team-leading fourth three-hit game of the year.

Up Next
The Bears continue their 12-game road trip with a three-game series at N.C. Central next week. Mercer opens its series against the Eagles with a doubleheader on Thursday with first pitch slated for 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. The Series finale is scheduled to start on Friday at noon.

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.