Mercer Splits Pair of Games at UGA Bulldog Classic

Sunday, March 7

Athens, Ga.

11 a.m.

Mercer University

7-7

UAB

8-9

Mercer

UAB

Photo by: Mitch Robinson

Mercer Splits Pair of Games at UGA Bulldog Classic

3/7/2021 11:04:00 AM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Annie Potter slugged her first career home run against UAB in game one

By: Stephen Waldman

ATHENS, Ga. – The Mercer softball team closed out play at the Bulldog Classic by taking a 6-5 win over UAB and dropping a 6-0 decision against No. 19 Georgia on Sunday.

Annie Potter, Allie Jones and Micayla Rood led the Bears offense with three hits apiece on the day with Potter slugging her first collegiate home run and driving in a team-high three RBI. Jones hustled her way to the first triple of her senior campaign while stealing her eighth base of the year. Kylie Helm added two hits on the day, including a double and an RBI.

In the circle, Ashlyn Donner picked up her second victory of the season as she allowed just two hits and a run in four innings of work. Madi Joice was called in for the final three innings of the game and picked up her second save.

Game One: Mercer 6, UAB 5
Mercer took an early lead in the first inning when Micayla Rood reached on a one-out, infield single. She advanced to second and moved up to third on a wild pitch. Adele Braun walked as the pitch was unable to be handled by the Blazers' catcher, allowing Rood to score from third on the wild pitch. Jones shot a single up the middle to put two runners on for the Bears, but they would be stranded there to end the inning.

The Bears added to their lead in the fourth inning that began with a leadoff double by Helm. Atira McGowan entered as a pinch runner and scored two batters later when Potter blasted a 2-2 offering over the left field fence for her first collegiate home run. The designated visitors added an insurance run later in the inning when Rood picked up her second infield base knock of the game that scored Elisa Rosado to make it a four-run game. UAB got a run back in the bottom of the inning on an RBI double from Brooke Burback, but the Bears answered the next inning to regain its four-run advantage. Jones scored in a Helm single after lacing a triple into the right center gap.

The Blazers managed to score two runs in both the sixth and seventh innings, but an RBI single by Annie Potter that plated Alyssa Woods in the seventh gave the Bears enough of a cushion to hold off UAB's comeback bid.

Game Two: No. 19 Georgia 6, Mercer 0
The Bears held the Bulldogs off the board for the first two innings thanks to a good defensive play by Tori Ash behind the plate in the first inning as she picked off a UGA baserunner at first combined with a strong pitching effort from Amber Byrd.

Mercer tallied its first hit of the game in the second inning when Jones hit a single to the opposite field before stealing second to move into scoring position. She would be stranded there, however, as the next two hitters were retired to end the inning. The Bears strung together a pair of two-out hits in the following frame when Rosado and Rood tallied back-to-back singles.

UGA scored its first run of the game in the third inning as the Bulldogs took advantage of a defensive miscue. They added an insurance run in each of the next two innings to take a 3-0 lead. Georgia scored three more runs in the sixth inning on a sacrifice fly and a two-run double.

Notables
» Annie Potter recorded her first collegiate home run in the first game.
» Allie Jones tallied the sixth double of her career.
» Elisa Rosado posted her team-leading 15^th hit of the season.

Up Next
The Bears return to Sikes Field next weekend to host the Mercer Bears Classic. Mercer opens with a doubleheader against Winthrop on Friday before facing off against the Eagles and Presbyterian on Saturday. Mercer closes out the tournament on Sunday against Southern Miss.

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.