Bears Fight Hard in Home Finale

Sunday, May 2

Macon, Ga.

1 p.m.

Mercer University

21-20, 6-8

UNCG

28-15, 11-4

UNCG

Mercer

Photo by: Mitch Robinson

5/2/2021 5:28:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

Senior Micayla Rood tallied three hits in the series finale

By: Stephen Waldman

MACON, Ga. – The Mercer softball team fought hard in a 5-3 setback against UNCG in the series finale on Sunday at Sikes Field.

The Bears finished the 2021 season with a record of 12-9 at home. Seniors Micayla Rood, Allie Jones, Danielle Castleberry and Bree Comer all recorded a hit in their final time playing at Sikes Field with Rood posting team highs with three hits, two runs and a stolen base. Jones added a two-RBI single, and Castleberry earned a hit and scored a run. Comer also went 1-for-2 and drew a walk.

Rookie Annie Potter tallied two hits on the day and drove in an RBI. Sophomore Kylie Helm also reached on a hit in the final game against UNCG. In the circle, sophomore Ashlyn Donner tossed her team-leading ninth complete game of the year.

How It Happened
UNCG scored first for the first time all weekend in the first inning when Hannah Kincer hit a two-run home run to left field. Maycin Brown followed that up with a double and eventually scored on an RBI single by Katie Stettler.

The Spartans threatened again in the second inning as a pair of singles and a walk loaded the bases with one out, but Donner was able to induce an inning-ending 6-4-3 double play to get out of the jam.

The Bears answered in the home half of the second as Castleberry kick-started the offense with an infield single. She advanced to second on a Comer walked two batters later and came around to score on a two-out single by Potter to cut the deficit to 3-1. Rood led off the next inning with a single up the middle before stealing second and being sacrificed over to third. Jones came up next and lined an RBI single down the line in left. Rood scored on the play and brought the Bears within one, 3-2.

UNCG added to its lead in the top of the fifth when pinch runner Ashley Gontram scored on a defensive miscue and Kincer scored on a wild pitch to extend the visitors' lead to 5-2.

Mercer continued to battle in the bottom of the inning and scratched across another run. Rood slapped a leadoff single to left field before moving to second on a groundout. After advancing to third on a wild pitch, the senior connection came through once again as Jones plated the Buford, Ga., native with a ground out to short. Rood tallied her third hit of the game in her final at-bat with two outs in the seventh before Madison Headley kept the rally going with a two-out walk, but it was not enough to complete the comeback as Mercer dropped the series finale.

Notables
» Mercer finished the season with a 12-9 record at Sikes Field.
» Seniors Micayla Rood, Allie Jones, Danielle Castleberry and Bree Comer all tallied a hit in their final game at Sikes Field.
» Rood tallied her 12th multi-hit game of the season, tying Castleberry for the team lead.
» Rood collected her 40th hit of the season and 160th hit of her career in the game.
» Rood scored the 110th run of her career while also swiping her 40th stolen base in a Bears' uniform.
» Castleberry earned her team-leading 41st hit of the season.
» Jones reached base for the 13th consecutive game, including a six-game hitting streak.
» Jones drove in multiple RBI for the fifth time this year.
» Comer drew her team-leading 19th walk of the season.
» Potter posted the sixth multi-hit game of her rookie campaign.
» Donner tossed her team-leading ninth complete game.

Up Next
The Bears will close out the 2021 regular season at Furman next weekend. Mercer will begin its series with the Paladins on Saturday with a doubleheader starting at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., before playing the series finale on Sunday at 1 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.