Bears Head To Athens To Take On No. 3 Georgia

MACON – The Mercer softball team will close out a six-game road trip on Wednesday when the Bears make the short trip to Athens to tangle with 3^rd-ranked Georgia at Jack Turner Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

Fans unable to make the trip to Athens can still follow the game in progress via a live statistics link provided by the UGA athletics department. The midweek contest is also slated to be streamed live by the SEC Network/ESPN+.

Winners in six of their last nine outings, the Bears (15-18) are fresh off a series win at Southern Conference rival Western Carolina on Friday and Saturday in Cullowhee, N.C. The Orange & Black tallied mercy-rule victories in the bookends of the set, and hit nearly .390 (30-for-77) on the weekend. MU got a trio of complete-game performances from its pitching staff as well, including redshirt sophomore Hannah Pitts who struck out nine batters in 11-2/3 innings pitched.

Mercer will tote one of the nation's top home run-hitting clubs (1.00 home runs/game) into the midweek tilt, but the Bears also boast the nation's 31^st-best team on-base percentage (.397) thanks, in large part, to drawing 125 walks (3.8/game) and absorbing 28 bean balls through their first 33 outings as well. Junior Tori Hedgecock has amassed 15 home runs (3^rd NCAA) already this season, while also compiling NCAA Division I's 5^th-best slugging percentage (.966) and 11^th-best on-base percentage (.559).

The Bears have surged in other parts of their batting order as of late as well. Junior shortstop Emma Dorval is hitting .448 (13-for-29) at the plate over her last 10 starts, while senior centerfielder Alyssa Woods has registered a .400 (14-for-35) clip with 15 runs scored across that same span.

SERIES HISTORY

Georgia leads the all-time series with Mercer, 22-1, and has captured each of the last five meetings, including a 13-1 triumph last season in Athens. MU's lone win in the series came on April 14, 2018, when the Bears pushed across three runs in the top of the eighth inning on the way to a 5-2 upset at Jack Turner Stadium.

SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS

The nationally-ranked Bulldogs (29-6) had their five-game win streak snapped with a 3-2 setback to then-No. 20 Arkansas on Friday, and the Razorbacks eventually emerged with the series win after tacking up an 8-2 win in Sunday's series finale. Despite the two setbacks, Georgia will still showcase NCAA Division I's 12^th-ranked scoring offense (6.83 runs/game) on Wednesday which has been fueled by 1.66 home runs/game (6^th NCAA) and a .575 slugging percentage (8^th).

Senior outfielder Jayda Kearney paces the Bulldogs in both batting average (.391) and home runs (14), but Georgia has a handful of other offensive weapons as well, including senior Sara Mosley who has compiled a .350 batting average with 10 home runs and a team-high 46 RBI in 35 starts this season. Three others players are hitting .349 or better as well.

In the circle, Georgia boasts three pitchers who have made 18 or more appearances this season, including senior right-hander Madison Kerpics who leads the squad with a 2.35 ERA in 56-2/3 innings of work while holding opponents to a .176 batting average. Junior Lilli Backes, a North Carolina transfer, is 12-3 with a 2.44 ERA, and has struck out a team-best 75 batters in 86 innings pitched.

UP NEXT FOR THE BEARS

Following Wednesday evening's contest in Athens, Mercer will play seven of its next eight outings in the comfy confines of Sikes Field, beginning with a three-game Southern Conference series against Furman (17-18, 3-3 SoCon) this weekend. The squads will open up the series with a 2 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday and close out the weekend with a 1 p.m. contest on Sunday. Admission to all 2024 Mercer softball home games is free.

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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.

Bears Head To Athens To Take On No. 3 Georgia

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Players Mentioned

Emma Dorval

Tori Hedgecock

Hannah Pitts

Alyssa Woods

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Bears Head To Athens To Take On No. 3 Georgia

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Emma Dorval

Tori Hedgecock

Hannah Pitts

Alyssa Woods

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