Bears Finish At Mercer Bear Invitational

Saturday, February 25

Macon, Ga.

1:30 PM

Mercer University

4-8

Belmont University

10-2

Belmont

Mercer

2/25/2023 7:02:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

MACON, Ga. – The Mercer softball team finished their last day at the Mercer Bear Invitational with a 0-3 record. Their final two losses came from Belmont (5-1) and Jacksonville University (13-1).

How It Happened
GAME TWO vs Belmont University
    Mercers Grace Taylor took the mound to get the first three Belmont batters to ground out. The Bears were unable to produce a base runner to end the first scoreless.
Bruins then score one run on three hits with one error and left three on base. No Bear batters were able to reach base in the second or third inning. Top of the fourth Bruins pushed across three runs.
    With one out Alyssa Woods singles and was the first base runner for the Bears. She was advanced to third by a double courtesy of Kylie Helm. Tori Hedgecock walked to juice the bases. With two outs Bailey Ledvina singled to bring in Woods and advance Helms and Hedgecock. Mercer was unable to capitalize and left them stranded.
    A pitching change in the top of the fifth brings in Katie Rearley and Bruins scored one run on 2 hits. Madi Wicker lead off with a single but the Bears bats couldn't advance the runner. The game went scoreless in the sixth. The Bears held the Bruins and started the bottom of the seventh off with a triple by Ledvina. Bruins finished the innings with strike outs on the next three batters for a final score of 5 -1.

GAME THREE vs Jacksonville University
    Jacksonville's bats started off hot against the Bears, scoring two runs on two hits. Rebeca Laudino reached on a single but was caught stealing followed by Lillian Wilkerson reaching on an error but was left on base.
    Jacksonville scored three runs and Rearley came into the circle with one runner on and no outs. She got the Bears out of the inning with two runs scored. Woods drew a base on balls but the bats of the Bears could not capitalize on it.
    Hickok came into pitch to start the third. The Dolphins' offense stayed strong and posted four runs on three hits. Jacksonville retired the first three Mercer batters and the score remained 11 -0.
    Wicker started off the top of the fourth, pitching the first scoreless inning to Jacksonville. With two outs, Ledvina singled for the second hit of the game. A ground out produced the third out to finish the inning. Jacksonville put two more runs on the board at the top of the fifth.
    Looking for a rally, Morgan Hall draws a walk followed by a flied out. Wicker doubled advancing Hall to third. Avery Barton grounded out but was able to RBI Hall for the first Bear run. Sophie Sumner got hit by a pitch but was stranded with wicker after a pop-up to end the game, 13-1.

Up Next
The Bears will have one more home contest on Tuesday against the University of Northern Iowa (6:00 p.m.) before traveling to Tuscaloosa, AL for the Easton Crimson Classic.

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.