Bears Drop Doubleheader at Samford

Saturday, March 25

Birmingham, AL

2:00 PM (ET)

Mercer University

Samford University

3/25/2023 11:12:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Birmingham, AL. – Bears go 0-2 on their first day of Southern Conference play against Samford.

How It Happened
Game One
    Mercer started the first with three quick pop-up outs. Grace Taylor entered the circle to hold the Bulldogs scoreless with three left on. Bailey Ledvina homered to give the Bears an early lead. Avery Barton singled to center and was advanced to second by a Morgan Hall bunt. Alyssa Woods came to the plate with two outs and singled to the left side making. The bases remained loaded after a pop out ending the first.
    The Bears were able to keep the score 1-0 by holding the Bulldogs scoreless in second inning. Bears were retired one,two,three in the top of the third.
Rebeca Laudino made a great defensive catch at shortstop for the first out. The Bulldogs were able to tie the game on a sacrifice fly after the Bears gave up a walk and a double. The Bears went three up three down in the fourth and fifth. Samford took the lead after scoring two runs in the bottom of the fourth. The Bears shut out the Bulldogs in order to end the fifth trailing 1-3.
    In the top of the sixth with two outs Ledvina singled then was advanced on a bunt single by Barton. Taylor remained in the circle and with great defensive catching by Sophie Sumner held the bulldogs off the bases.
    Looking for a Bear rally Parris Wiggs drew a base on the ball and then stole second. With one out Wiggs advanced to third on a ground out by Woods. However, the Bears fell short on a third out ground out for a final 3 -1.

Game Two
    Kylie Helm singled with two outs followed for the Bears first hit of the game. Katie Rearley entered the circle for the Bears sitting the Bulldogs down in order. A lead off single by Barton followed by a walk from Wiggs got the Bears on base. Both advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Hall. Lillian Wilkerson came up big with a single up the middle scoring two. Woods reached on a fielding error but both were left on base.
    The Bears kept the Bulldogs scoreless to keep the lead at 2-0.With one out, Ledvina singled and advanced to second on a single from Barton. Bases were loaded after Hall was walked but the Bulldogs got a ground out to end the inning.
    Bears sat the Bulldogs down again in order with the fourth and fifth inning. Mercer's defense held strong with a gorgeous double play by the second basemen Barton.
    Hall reached on a fielding error with one out and Woods would double to right with two outs. The Bears were unable to push a run across with a long flied out for the third out.Rearley got out of the bottom of the six quick with a pop out and two ground outs to keep the Bears in front 2-0 heading into the seventh. Helm homered at the top of the seventh to further Mercer's lead.However, the Bulldogs bats came in hot scoring scoring four runs on five hits to take the game, 4-3.

Up Next
    The Bears will finish up their opening weekend of Southern Conference play in Birmingham, AL against Samford tomorrow. The final game on is scheduled for Sunday, March 26 at 1:00 p.m. (CT).

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