Thursday, April 1
Cary, N.C.
7 p.m.
Mercer University
14-14
9
at
7
N.C. Central
4-18
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Mercer
2
0
0
5
2
0
0
9
9
0
N.C. Central
1
0
1
0
1
3
1
7
10
5
Photo by: Mitch Robinson
Mercer Takes Series Opener at NC Central
4/1/2021 10:21:00 PM | Softball
Adele Braun hit the second home run of her freshman campaign
CARY, N.C. – A five-run fourth inning propelled the Mercer softball team to a 9-7 victory in the series opener at N.C. Central on Thursday evening.
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Freshman Adele Braun led the Bears' offensive efforts with a team-high two hits, including a two-run home run, while scoring two runs in the contest. Mercer totaled nine hits in the game as Madison Headley, Danielle Castleberry, Alyssa Woods, Diamond Williams, Bree Comer, Annie Potter and Kenlie Harvey all recorded base knocks in the contest. Potter and Harvey both recorded extra-base hits as both players registered a double, while Harvey added two RBI.
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In the circle, Ashlyn Donner picked up her team-leading fifth win of the season with her fourth complete game effort.
How It Happened
The Bears went on the offensive early as they struck for two runs before N.C. Central picked up a bat. Rood started things off by reaching on a two-base throwing error by the Eagles' pitcher before advancing to third on a Headley single up the middle. After Headley stole second to put two runners in scoring position, Castleberry plated Rood on an RBI ground out to second base. Staying aggressive on the base paths, Headley forced another defensive miscue by NCCU and scored Mercer's second run of the frame.
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N.C. Central answered in the bottom half of the opening frame as a leadoff single by Hailey Batista and a double by Joirea Dumas cut the Mercer lead in half, 2-1. Donner settled in after that as she induced a pair of ground outs and a pop out to get out of the inning. The Eagles tied the game at 2-all in the third inning when Dumas led off with a solo home run to left field.
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Mercer responded in a big way as the visitors put up five runs on five hits in the fourth inning. The rally started with one out as Williams, Braun and Comer strung together three consecutive singles to load the bases. Potter worked a full-count walk to give Mercer the 3-2 lead before Harvey was called upon as a pinch hitter. She added some insurance runs as she roped an 0-2 pitch for a double that scored Comer and Braun. Rood stepped into the box next and scored Potter on a sacrifice fly before Castleberry shot a single to the opposite field to plate Harvey.
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Donner and the Mercer defense carried that momentum into the bottom of the inning as she retired the Eagles in order to put the Bears back on the prowl. Mercer did just that in the fifth as Williams drew a four-pitch walk to lead off the frame before Braun belted a two-run bomb over the left field fence to extend Mercer's advantage to 9-2.
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N.C. Central continued to fight and made Mercer earn the win as an RBI double by Olivia Daniel made it a six-run game at 9-3. Batista added a two-run single in the sixth inning before a Dumas sac fly trimmed the Bears' lead to three at 9-6. The Eagles led off the seventh with back-to-back singles by Daniel and K'lea Parks, and a sacrifice fly by Maegan Garrison brought the home team within two, 9-7. Donner locked at that point and struck out the final two hitters to secure the series-opening victory for the Bears.
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Notables
» Mercer improved to 3-0 all-time against N.C. Central.
» The Bears played error-free softball for the 12th time this season.
» Castleberry tallied her team-leading 30th hit of the season.
» Braun belted her second home run of the season.
» Braun recorded her third multi-hit game of the season.
» Castleberry tallied her team-leading 30th hit of the season.
» Potter scored the 10th run of her rookie campaign while legging out her fifth double of the season.
» Harvey recorded her second multi-RBI performance of the year.
» Williams scored her ninth run of the season, surpassing her mark from last season.
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Up Next
The Bears close out their series at N.C. Central with a doubleheader on Friday. The first game is slated to begin at 12 p.m., while the night cap is scheduled to start at 2 p.m.
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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.
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Freshman Adele Braun led the Bears' offensive efforts with a team-high two hits, including a two-run home run, while scoring two runs in the contest. Mercer totaled nine hits in the game as Madison Headley, Danielle Castleberry, Alyssa Woods, Diamond Williams, Bree Comer, Annie Potter and Kenlie Harvey all recorded base knocks in the contest. Potter and Harvey both recorded extra-base hits as both players registered a double, while Harvey added two RBI.
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In the circle, Ashlyn Donner picked up her team-leading fifth win of the season with her fourth complete game effort.
How It Happened
The Bears went on the offensive early as they struck for two runs before N.C. Central picked up a bat. Rood started things off by reaching on a two-base throwing error by the Eagles' pitcher before advancing to third on a Headley single up the middle. After Headley stole second to put two runners in scoring position, Castleberry plated Rood on an RBI ground out to second base. Staying aggressive on the base paths, Headley forced another defensive miscue by NCCU and scored Mercer's second run of the frame.
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N.C. Central answered in the bottom half of the opening frame as a leadoff single by Hailey Batista and a double by Joirea Dumas cut the Mercer lead in half, 2-1. Donner settled in after that as she induced a pair of ground outs and a pop out to get out of the inning. The Eagles tied the game at 2-all in the third inning when Dumas led off with a solo home run to left field.
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Mercer responded in a big way as the visitors put up five runs on five hits in the fourth inning. The rally started with one out as Williams, Braun and Comer strung together three consecutive singles to load the bases. Potter worked a full-count walk to give Mercer the 3-2 lead before Harvey was called upon as a pinch hitter. She added some insurance runs as she roped an 0-2 pitch for a double that scored Comer and Braun. Rood stepped into the box next and scored Potter on a sacrifice fly before Castleberry shot a single to the opposite field to plate Harvey.
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Donner and the Mercer defense carried that momentum into the bottom of the inning as she retired the Eagles in order to put the Bears back on the prowl. Mercer did just that in the fifth as Williams drew a four-pitch walk to lead off the frame before Braun belted a two-run bomb over the left field fence to extend Mercer's advantage to 9-2.
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N.C. Central continued to fight and made Mercer earn the win as an RBI double by Olivia Daniel made it a six-run game at 9-3. Batista added a two-run single in the sixth inning before a Dumas sac fly trimmed the Bears' lead to three at 9-6. The Eagles led off the seventh with back-to-back singles by Daniel and K'lea Parks, and a sacrifice fly by Maegan Garrison brought the home team within two, 9-7. Donner locked at that point and struck out the final two hitters to secure the series-opening victory for the Bears.
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Notables
» Mercer improved to 3-0 all-time against N.C. Central.
» The Bears played error-free softball for the 12th time this season.
» Castleberry tallied her team-leading 30th hit of the season.
» Braun belted her second home run of the season.
» Braun recorded her third multi-hit game of the season.
» Castleberry tallied her team-leading 30th hit of the season.
» Potter scored the 10th run of her rookie campaign while legging out her fifth double of the season.
» Harvey recorded her second multi-RBI performance of the year.
» Williams scored her ninth run of the season, surpassing her mark from last season.
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Up Next
The Bears close out their series at N.C. Central with a doubleheader on Friday. The first game is slated to begin at 12 p.m., while the night cap is scheduled to start at 2 p.m.
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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.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Donner, Ashlyn (5-4)
L: HURLEY,K. (2-12)
Batting:
2B: Potter, Annie 1 ; Harvey, Kenlie 1
HR: Braun, Adele 1
RBI: Rood, Micayla 1 ; Castleberry, Danielle 1 ; Braun, Adele 2 ; Potter, Annie 1 ; Harvey, Kenlie 2
SF: Rood, Micayla 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Rood, Micayla 1 ; Headley, Madison 1 ; Williams, Diamond 1 ; McGowan, Atira 1 ; Braun, Adele 2 ; Comer, Bree 1 ; Potter, Annie 1 ; Harvey, Kenlie 1
SB: Headley, Madison 1
HBP: Castleberry, Danielle 1
Batting:
2B: DUMAS,J. 1 ; DANIEL,O. 1
HR: DUMAS,J. 1
RBI: BATISTA,H. 2 ; DUMAS,J. 3 ; DANIEL,O. 1 ; GARRISON,M. 1
SF: DUMAS,J. 1 ; GARRISON,M. 1
Base Running:
RUNS: BATISTA,H. 1 ; DUMAS,J. 1 ; MIFSUD,M. 1 ; DANIEL,O. 1 ; HARRELL,I. 1 ; SANCHEZ,T. 1 ; BLEVINS,N. 1
HBP: DANIEL,O. 1 ; SANCHEZ,T. 1 ; WEBB,M. 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
2
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
AB
1
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
INF
/ SoftballINF/OF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
INF
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
UTIL
/ SoftballOF
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