Hedgecock, Bears Walk It Off Against Bryant In Tournament Finale

Sunday, February 25

Macon, Ga.

10 a.m.

Mercer University

7-4

Bryant

5-4

Bryant

Mercer

Hedgecock, Bears Walk It Off Against Bryant In Tournament Finale

2/25/2024 1:09:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Box Score

By: Todd Anderson, anderson_t02@mercer.edu

MACON – Junior Tori Hedgecock's 3-run home run with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning negated a one-run deficit for the Mercer softball team and lifted the Bears past visiting Bryant, 5-3, on Sunday afternoon at Sikes Field.

Sunday's contest wrapped up action for both teams at the Mercer Bear Invitational, while also helping the Bears (7-4) avenge a Saturday loss to their rivals from Rhode Island. The setback also snapped a two-game series win streak for Bryant (6-3).

Sophomore Grace Taylor (3-1) struck out three and allowed just two hits and a lone earned run in three innings of relief to grab the win for the Bears. Freshman Gabby Ellis made the start for MU, but was not awarded a decision despite yielding just a lone earned run in three innings from the circle.

GAME SUMMARY
FINAL	Mercer 5, Bryant 3
PITCHERS	WP: Grace Taylor (3-1) LP: Grace McKillop (2-2)
RECORDS	Mercer (7-4, 0-0 SoCon); Bryant (6-3, 0-0 America East)

KEY INNINGS
TOP 5	Aleix Hudson doubled to lead off the frame, and was moved 60 feet away via a sac bunt off of the bat of Olyvia Smith. Alexis Clancy gave the Bulldogs their second lead of the contest four pitches later on a sac fly to deep left field.
BOT 7	Mercer saw its first two batters of the frame go down quietly, but the comeback hopes were kept alive moments later when the Bulldogs muffed a routine pop fly on the left side of the infield. Laura Vigna followed by drawing a 4-pitch walk to set the table for Tori Hedgecock who laced a 1-and-2 offering from BU starter Grace McKillop just inside the left field foul pole.

MU LEADERS	BU LEADERS
Tori Hedgecock 2-3, BB, HR, 4 RBI Laura Vigna 2-3, BB, RBI Alyssa Woods 1-3, BB, 2 R Grace Taylor 4.0 IP, 2 H, ER, 3 K	Amira Rainer 2-2, 2B, RBI Megan Marcel 1-2, BB, R Alexis Larrow 1-3, R

UP NEXT
The Bears will be back in action again on Wednesday when they make the short trip to Atlanta to battle Georgia Tech (8-7). First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m. at Shirley Clements Mewborn Field.

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