Bears Split Series-Opening Twinbill With ETSU

Saturday, April 13

Macon, Ga.

2 p.m.

Mercer University

18-20, 0

East Tennessee State

8-25, 0

East Tennessee State

Mercer

Bears Split Series-Opening Twinbill With ETSU

4/13/2024 5:21:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Photo Gallery

By: Todd Anderson, anderson_t02@mercer.edu

MACON – Visiting East Tennessee State shook off 11 strikeouts from Mercer starter Hannah Pitts to register a 3-2 win in extra innings in the opener, but the Bears used a 3-run fourth inning to fuel a 3-1 win in the nightcap and a doubleheader split with the Buccaneers on Saturday at Sikes Field.

The early result snapped a three-game win streak for Mercer (19-20, 8-3 SoCon), but the rally in the nightcap added a notch to a string of success that has seen MU capture 10 of its last 15 outings. The Bucs (8-26, 2-9) have now split their last four contests.

Pitts (4-6) tacked up a career-high 11 strikeouts and surrendered just five hits in eight innings from the circle in the early contest, but still saddled the loss via an eighth-inning sac fly. Fellow sophomore Grace Taylor (9-8) struck out five and scattered eight hits across her eighth complete game of the season to grab the win in game two.

SUMMARY
GAME 1 FINAL	East Tennessee State 3, Mercer 2 (8 Innings)
PITCHERS	WP: Whitley Arnott (4-4) LP: Hannah Pitts (4-6)

GAME 2 FINAL	Mercer 3, East Tennessee State 1
PITCHERS	WP: Grace Taylor (9-8) LP: Taylor Suchy (0-11)

RECORDS	Mercer 19-20 (8-3 SoCon); East Tennessee State 8-26 (2-9 SoCon)

KEY INNINGS (GAME 1)
TOP 3	Cameron Young hit a 1-out double and Riley Nayadley followed with a game-tying sacrifice fly to deep centerfield.
TOP 8	East Tennessee State put their first two batters aboard via a single and a walk, moved both into scoring position on an ensuing sacrifice bunt, then stormed ahead for good on Taylor Suchy's sac fly to centerfield.

KEY INNINGS (GAME 2)
BOT 4	Tori Hedgecock and Avery Barton led off the frame with singles, and the Bears evened the game back up on Emma Dorval's double two batters later. Avery Barton slid under a tag at home plate to give the hosts the lead via Morgan Hall's fielder's choice RBI, and the Bears hammered in the final dagger when Dorval came scampering home on a throwing error by ETSU.

MU LEADERS (GAME 1)	ETSU LEADERS (GAME 1)
Lillian Wilkerson 2-4, 2B, R Avery Barton 1-4, 2B Alyssa Woods 1-4, BB, RBI Hannah Pitts 8.0 IP, 5 H, 11 K	Taylor Suchy 2-3, SF, 2 RBI Brylee Mesusan 1-3, BB, 2 R Cameron Young 1-3, BB, R Whitley Arnott 8.0 IP, 8 H, 3 K

MU LEADERS (GAME 2)	ETSU LEADERS (GAME 2)
Emma Dorval 3-3, 2B, RBI Tori Hedgecock 2-3, 2B Avery Barton 1-3, R Grace Taylor 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 5 K	Riley Nayadley 2-3, SAC Brylee Mesusan 2-4, R Taylor Suchy 1-4, RBI

UP NEXT
The Bears will close out their weekend series with East Tennessee State on Sunday at Sikes Field. First pitch of the series rubber game is scheduled for 1 p.m. and admission is free.

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