Bears Headed to NC Central for 3-Game Set

Thursday, April 1

Cary, N.C.

7 p.m.

Mercer University

N.C. Central

Photo by: Mitch Robinson

3/31/2021 1:23:00 PM | Softball

The Bears and Eagles will play one game on Thursday before a doubleheader on Friday

By: Stephen Waldman

MACON, Ga. – The Mercer softball team continues its 12-game road trip with a three-game series at N.C. Central on Thursday and Friday.

The Bears will open their series with the Eagles on Thursday night at 7 p.m. before wrapping things up with a doubleheader on Friday at 12 p.m. and 2 p.m.

BEAR NECESSITIES
Teams: Mercer (13-14, 1-2 SoCon) vs. N.C. Central (10-14, 3-1 MEAC)
Location: Cary, N.C. | Thomas Brooks Park
Thursday: April 1 | 7 p.m. | Live Stats
Friday (G1): April 2 | 12 p.m. | Live Stats
Friday (G2): April 2 | 2 p.m. | Live Stats
Twitter Updates: @MercerUSoftball

QUICK HITS

Mercer's 0.30 triples per game are the most in the SoCon and ranks 40th nationally.
The Beras have three of the top six hitters in the Southern Conference in Danielle Castleberry (29, 1st), Elisa Rosado (28, 2nd) and Micayla Rood (26, T-3rd).
Castleberry has been hit by 37 pitches throughout her career, the 14th-most among active Division I players.
Rosado leads the conference and ranks 19th in the country with three triples.
Rood scored the 100th run of her career this past weekend at Samford.
Allie Jones leads the SoCon with 13 stolen bases on the season.
Jones has swiped 43 bags throughout her career, passing Shannon Tolin for fifth on Mercer's all-time steals list.

SERIES HISTORY
The Bears are a perfect 2-0 against N.C. Central, picking up a pair of wins at Sikes Field during the 2014 season. Mercer won the first meeting on Feb. 28, 2014, 11-0 behind a five-inning no-hitter by Anna O'Neill who struck out six while scattering three walks. Krista Kennedy and Kaylynn Sloat hit home runs in the game as well.

The second game was on March 2, 2014, when Mercer earned an 8-0 victory in five innings. Riley Carter was dominant in the circle for the Bears, tossing a no-hitter while striking out seven Eagles while only allowing two base runners: one on a hit-by-pitch and one on an error. Kaytlin Haney and Caroline Taylor hit a pair of home runs in a six-run second inning for Mercer.

SCOUTING N.C. Central
N.C. Central enters the series with a 4-17 record on the season, including a 3-1 mark in the MEAC. Madison Mifsud is the Eagles' leading hitter with a .321 average (17-for-53) with two doubles and four walks to her credit. Joirea Dumas leads the squad with 18 hits, eight walks, five doubles and two home runs while adding seven RBI.

Kiara Hurley has tossed 82.2 of the team's 129.1 innings this season, going the distance in all 13 of her starts. She is 2-11 on the season with a 5.00 ERA while striking out 40 hitters. Carolina Campbell is 2-3 on the year, having pitched 29.0 innings in eight appearances.

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.