MU Registers Late-Innings Split On Friday At Mercer Bear Invitational

Friday, February 23

Macon, Ga.

4 p.m.

Mercer University

4-3

Troy

11-4

Troy

Mercer

MU Registers Late-Innings Split On Friday At Mercer Bear Invitational

2/23/2024 7:04:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Photo Gallery

By: Todd Anderson, anderson_t02@mercer.edu

MACON – Visiting Troy used a late-innings rally to scoot past Mercer in the early game, but the Bears rebounded with a late-inning rally of their own in the nightcap when Tori Hedgecock launched a walk-off solo homer to centerfield to give MU a victory over Morehead State and an opening-day split at the Mercer Bear Invitational.

Friday evening's 4-3 win over the Eagles (4-3) snapped a two-game skid for Mercer (5-3) who will resume action at their home tournament on Saturday with an 11 a.m. tilt with Bryant, as well as a 1 p.m. rematch with Morehead State.

Sophomore Grace Taylor (1-1) took the tough-luck loss for the Bears in the setback to Troy despite striking out one and surrendering just a lone earned run in three innings of work. Sophomore Hannah Pitts (1-0) logged nine strikeouts, and shined in a stretch of the contest that watched her retire 13-straight batters, to log her first win of the campaign.

DOUBLEHEADER SUMMARY
GAME 1 FINAL	Troy 3, Mercer 1 (8 Innings)
PITCHERS	WP: Libby Baker (5-1) LP: Grace Taylor (1-1)

GAME 2 FINAL	Mercer 4, Morehead State 3
PITCHERS	WP: Hannah Pitts (1-0) LP: Addie Stem (2-3)

RECORDS	Mercer (5-3, 0-0 SoCon); Troy (11-4, 0-0 SBC); Morehead State (4-3, 0-0 MVC)

KEY INNINGS VS. TROY
TOP 6	Troy loaded the bases with its first four at-bats of the sixth inning, and then knotted the score up moments later on a 5-pitch walk.
TOP 8	With the international tiebreaker rule in effect, the Trojans got a leadoff double from Jade SInness to bring home the eventual game-winning run. Libby Baker helped her own cause later in the frame with a 2-out RBI single up the middle.

KEY INNINGS VS. MOREHEAD STATE
TOP 7	Peyton Jordan erased a late 3-1 deficit with one swing of the bat for the Eagles. Ilencia Lightbody got the rally started when she climbed aboard via a 1-out walk, and Jordan leaned into Hannah Pitts's first offering moments later and launched it deep to left field.
BOT 7	Tori Hedgecock watched the first four pitches go by in the home half of the seventh to forge a 3-and-1 count, but then got ahold of Addie Stem's next offering and hit a 245-foot rocket to straightaway center.

MU LEADERS VS. TROY	TU LEADERS VS. MERCER
Taylor Rogers 1-3, 2B, R Emma Dorval 1-2, SAC Janessa Plummer 1-1, BB Gabby Ellis 5.0 IP, ER, K	Jade Sinness 3-4, 2B, RBI Audra Thompson 0-2, BB, HBP, RBI D'Aun Riggs 1-4, 2 R Libby Baker 8.0 IP, ER, 2 K

MU LEADERS VS. MOREHEAD ST.	MSU LEADERS VS. MERCER
Alyssa Woods 2-4, R Laura Vigna 2-4, R Tori Hedgecock 1-2, HR Hannah Pitts 7.0 IP, 4 H, 9 K	Peyton Jordan 1-3, HR, 2 RBI Spear 1-3, HR Lewis 1-2, RBI Begley 5.0 IP, ER, 4 K

UP NEXT
The Bears will play two more games at the Mercer Invitational on Saturday at Sikes Field. Mercer is scheduled for an 11 a.m. matchup with Bryant before closing out its portion of Saturday action against Morehead State at 1:30 p.m.

STAY CONNECTED
Follow Mercer Softball on Twitter and Instagram and "Like" Mercer Football on Facebook.

SUPPORT THE BEARS
Fans can help support the Mercer athletics department by making a gift to the Mercer Athletic Foundation. To find out more information about the Mercer Athletic Foundation, visit *S upportMAF.com* or email *maf@mercer.edu*.