Bears Blank Western Carolina in Series Finale

Sunday, April 18

Macon, Ga.

1 p.m.

Mercer University

19-17, 4-5

Western Carolina

18-19, 9-2

Western Carolina

Mercer

Photo by: Ben Murray

Bears Blank Western Carolina in Series Finale

4/18/2021 7:23:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

Danielle Castleberry hit a three-run double in the fifth inning

By: Stephen Waldman

MACON, Ga. – The Mercer softball team captured a 6-0 victory over Western Carolina in the series finale at Sikes Field on Sunday.

Sophomore Ashlyn Donner shut down the Catamounts in the circle, limiting them to just five hits through seven innings while tossing her first shutout of the season. The New Ulm, Minn., native went the distance for the sixth time this year while earning her team-leading seventh win.

Micayla Rood tallied two of the team's seven hits in the game, while Adele Braun and Danielle Castleberry produced two extra-base hits. Braun blasted the third home run of her rookie campaign to open the scoring, and Castleberry cleared the bases with a three-run double. Elisa Rosado, Allie Jones and Annie Potter accounted for the squad's other three hits in the game. Jones and Braun both scored a game-high two runs.

How It Happened
Donner got off to a quick start as she retired six of the first eight hitters of the game, including a 1-2-3 second inning. Braun opened the scoring for Mercer in the home half of the frame when she belted a towering shot over the wall in left field to give the Bears a 1-0 lead.

Western Carolina threatened in the fourth inning when Myra Twitty led off with a single and advanced to third, but Donner was able to bear down and, after falling behind 3-0 to Anna-Paige Pelfrey, struck out the Catamount designated player to get out of the inning.

Mercer went back on the attack in the bottom of the fourth as a Jones single and a walk by Braun put a pair of Bears on base. Castleberry's sacrifice bunt attempt was mishandled by the WCU pitcher and was kicked into a vacant portion of the infield, allowing Jones to score from second to extend Mercer's lead to 2-0. Braun hustled her way into third on the play, and an attempt to throw her out at third allowed Castleberry to move up to second.

While the Bears were unable to tag Western Carolina for any more runs in the fourth, they were able to put up a crooked number in the fifth to create some breathing room. A trio of walks from Rood, Jones and Braun loaded the bases with two outs for Castleberry who lined the first pitch she saw off the top of the wall in straightaway center field to clear the bases as Mercer's advantage grew to 5-0.

The Black and Orange capitalized in the sixth inning as well when Potter, who started the rally with a one-out hit, scored from second on a two-out, seeing-eye single by Rosado.

Donner and the Bears' defense completed the shutout effort in the seventh and prevented the sweep with a win in the finale.

Notables
» Mercer snapped Western Carolina's nine-game conference winning streak.
» Donner tossed her first solo shutout in a Bears uniform.
» Donner earned her seventh win of the season to lead the squad.
» Braun belted her team-leading third home run of the season.
» Rosado tallied her 35th hit of the year.
» Rood posted her team-leading 11th multi-hit game.
» Castleberry documented her fifth multi-RBI effort of the season, including her second game driving in at least three runs.
» Castleberry legged out her 25th career double.
» Jones has reached base safely in each of the last eight games.
» Jones tallied the 140th hit and the 80th run scored of her career.
» Kenlie Harvey played in her 100th career game for the Bears.

Up Next
The Bears will remain at home on Wednesday as they welcome Florida A&M to Sikes Field for a midweek doubleheader. First pitch for game one is slated for 4 p.m., while game two is scheduled for a 6 p.m. start.

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.