Helm’s Homer Not Enough as Bears Drop Series Opener

Saturday, April 10

Macon, Ga.

6 p.m.

Mercer University

16-15, 1-3

Chattanooga

9-16, 5-1

Chattanooga

Mercer

Photo by: Mitch Robinson

Helm’s Homer Not Enough as Bears Drop Series Opener

4/10/2021 11:54:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

Kylie Helm hit her second home run of the season

By: Stephen Waldman

MACON, Ga. – The Mercer softball team dropped a hard-fought 2-1 decision to Chattanooga in its series opener at Sikes Field on Saturday evening.

Two of the Bears' three hits in the game went for extra bases as Kylie Helm belted a solo home run and Elisa Rosado legged out her Southern Conference-leading ninth double of the year. Allie Jones added a single in the game. Mercer also drew three walks in the contest with Bree Comer earning two free passes and Danielle Castleberry reaching on the other.

In the circle, Madi Joice scattered four hits over 7.0 innings of work while collecting two strikeouts.

How It Happened
The Mocs got out to an early 1-0 lead after Courtney Ball was the first of four consecutive Chattanooga hitters to reach on either a hit-by-pitch or walk. The Tattnall Square product scored when Liz Rodebaugh wore the 1-2 offering with the bases loaded.

Rosado had the Bears off to a strong start offensively as she sliced a leadoff double down the line in left field. She was sacrificed over to third by Micayla Rood but was unable to score the game-tying run.

Chattanooga added to its lead in the second inning as Adison Keylon reached on a defensive miscue that scored Gracey Kruse who led off the frame with a hit. Joice settled in for the final two outs by setting down Ball with a strikeout before getting Hayleigh Weissenbach to fly out to center.

Helm cut the Bears' deficit in half in the home half of the second as she launched the 2-0 offering over the fence in left field to make it a 2-1 ballgame. Comer followed that up with her first of two full-count walks of the game after a seven-pitch plate appearance, but she was retired at second on a fielder's choice two batters later to end the threat.

Joice recomposed herself in the third inning by keeping Chattanooga off the scoreboard, building the momentum to carry herself through the rest of the outing. The Tahlequah, Okla., native locked down the visitors throughout the final five innings of the game as she only allowed multiple base runners one more time after the third.

Mercer's offense went back to work in the fifth inning as Comer led off the frame by winning a 12-pitch battle with her second full count walk of the contest. She advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Annie Potter before alertly taking third on an over-the-shoulder catch by Rodebaugh in foul territory. The Bears were unable to push across the game-tying run, however, as a foul out to the catcher ended the threat.

The Orange and Black looked to be mounting a comeback in the sixth inning as well as Castleberry started the rally with a one-out walk. Jones lined the next pitch into center field to put runners on first and second as Chattanooga went to the bullpen. Hannah Wood entered the circle for the visitors and neutralized the threat with a strikeout and a groundout to maintain her team's 2-1 advantage. Neither side was able to muster any dangerous scoring chances in the final inning as Chattanooga escaped with the win.

Notables
» Mercer hosted its first Southern Conference game in 713 days since UNCG was at Sikes Field on April 27-28, 2019.
» This was the first loss for the Bears in a game which they hit a home run.
» Helm belted her second home run of the season.
» Rosado documented her SoCon-leading ninth double of the year.
» Joice tossed her team-leading seventh complete game of the year.
» Jones tallied her 25th base hit of the season.
» Rood earned her 150th career start in a Bears' uniform.

Up Next
The Bears wrap up their series with Chattanooga with a doubleheader on Sunday. First pitch for game one is slated for 12 p.m., while game two is scheduled to start at 2 p.m.

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.