Mercer Shuts Out Longwood, Snaps Skid

Saturday, March 9

Clemson, S.C.

3:30 p.m.

Mercer University

9-11

Longwood

7-14

Longwood

Mercer

3/9/2024 6:43:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Box Score

By: Todd Anderson, anderson_t02@mercer.edu

CLEMSON, S.C. – Junior Tori Hedgecock hit a solo home run in the bottom of the first inning to help support a 2-hit shutout from sophomore right-hander Grace Taylor, and the Mercer softball team laid a 6-game losing streak to rest with a 5-0 victory over Longwood on Saturday at Clemson's McWhorter Stadium.

The result marked the first shutout of the season for the Bears (9-11), and the first blanking of an opponent for the Orange & Black since a 5-0 home shellacking of Western Carolina on April 23 of last season. It was the second-straight loss for the Lancers (7-14) who were set to close out the Tiger Invitational against host Clemson later Saturday.

Taylor (4-4) retired the first 16 batters she faced, but lost her bid for a perfect game via a 1-0 out double in the sixth. She also struck out one to highlight her fourth complete game outing of the campaign.

GAME SUMMARY
FINAL	Mercer 5, Longwood 0
PITCHERS	WP: Grace Taylor (4-4) LP: Cierra Gawryluk (0-3)
RECORDS	Mercer (9-11); Longwood (7-14)

KEY INNINGS
BOT 1	Longwood starter Cierra Gawryluk sat down the first two Bears she faced, but Tori Hedgecock unleased on a 2-ball offering from the right-hander and easily deposited the ball over the fence in left field.
BOT 4	Mercer used its first three at-bats to put a pair of runners into scoring position, then added an insurance run on a squeeze bunt from Taylor Rogers that plated Kassidy Moore from third base.

MU LEADERS	LU LEADERS
Tori Hedgecok 3-3, 2B, HR, 3 R Kassidy Moore 2-3, 2B, RBI Emma Dorval 2-3, BB Grace Taylor 7.0 IP, 2 H, K	Avery Miller 1-2, 2B Sophia Knock 1-3

UP NEXT
The Bears will continue their 13-game stretch away from home on Wednesday when they make the 111-mile trip northwest to battle Kennesaw State (6-14). First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Bailey Park.

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