Bears Drop Rubber Game To East Tennessee State

MACON – Visiting East Tennessee State pushed across a run in the top of the first inning to provide more than enough offense to support a 1-hit shutout from right-hander Sara Muir as the Bucs prevailed in Sunday's rubber game with the Mercer softball team, 5-0, at Sikes Field.

It was the first Southern Conference series loss of the season for the Bears (19-21, 8-4 SoCon) who fell to 13-6 at home this season with the result as well. The Bucs (9-26, 3-9) have now prevailed in three of their last five outings, and have tacked up five of their nine wins this season away from Johnson City, Tenn.

Sophomore Grace Taylor (9-9) surrendered four earned runs in 4-1/3 innings pitched to saddle the loss for the Bears whose only base hit came on a 2-out single from junior Emma Dorval in the second inning.

GAME SUMMARY
FINAL	East Tennessee State 5, Mercer 0
PITCHERS	WP: Sara Muir (4-4) LP: Grace Taylor (9-9)
RECORDS	Mercer 19-21 (8-4 SoCon); East Tennessee State 9-26 (3-9 SoCon)

KEY INNINGS
TOP 1	Brylee Mesusan (single) and Cameron Young (double) both reached base safely to start the afternoon, and Riley Nayadley gave the visitors the lead good on a RBI groundout five pitches later.

MU LEADERS	ETSU LEADERS
Emma Dorval 1-2	Riley Nayadley 2-3, HR, 5 RBI Brylee Mesusan 2-4, 2 R Cameron Young 2-4, 2B, R Sara Muir 7.0 IP, H, 3 K

UP NEXT
The Bears will close out a seven-game home stand on Wednesday when they take on Georgia Southern (21-17) in a twilight matchup at Sikes Field. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. and admission is free.

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Bears Drop Rubber Game To East Tennessee State

Players Mentioned

Emma Dorval

Grace Taylor

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