Bears Post Saturday Sweep, Clinch Series With Furman

Saturday, April 6

Macon, Ga.

2 p.m.

Mercer University

16-19, 5-2

Furman

18-19, 3-4

Furman

Mercer

Bears Post Saturday Sweep, Clinch Series With Furman

4/6/2024 8:57:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Photo Gallery

By: Todd Anderson, anderson_t02@mercer.edu

MACON – The Mercer softball team got a 2-run homer from senior Kassidy Moore in the opener to highlight a key fourth inning, then used a 5-RBI day from Tori Hedgecock in the nightcap to fuel a series-opening Saturday sweep of visiting Furman, 3-1 and 6-1, on Saturday afternoon at Sikes Field.

The results helped the Bears (17-19, 6-2 SoCon) put an orange bow on their third series victory of the campaign – the first time in the 39-year history of the program that MU has won their first three league series of the season. Furman (18-20, 3-5), who rolled into the weekend fresh from a Wednesday road upset of No. 17 Clemson, has now dropped the last five series with the Bears dating back to 2019.

Sophomore Grace Taylor (7-8) struck out three and allowed just five hits across her seventh complete game of the season en route to notching the win in Saturday's opener. Redshirt sophomore Hannah Pitts (4-5) went the distance for sixth time this season in game two, striking out six and limiting the Paladins to just four hits.

Moore combined for a 3-for-6 day at the plate, including her eighth home run of the season in the early game. Hedgecock matched a 6-year-old school record with her 16^th long ball of the campaign, a grand slam, in the nightcap.

SUMMARY
GAME 1 FINAL	Mercer 3, Furman 1
PITCHERS	WP: Grace Taylor (7-8) LP: Sierra Tufts (8-6)

GAME 2 FINAL	Mercer 6, Furman 1
PITCHERS	WP: Hannah Pitts (4-5) LP: Lauralee Scott (7-3)

RECORDS	Mercer (17-19, 6-2 SoCon); Furman (18-20, 3-5 SoCon)

KEY INNINGS (GAME 1)
BOT 3	Avery Barton was plunked to lead off the frame, and Kassidy Moore hit a 2-run bomb three pitches later to give the Bears the lead for good. Mercer used its next four at-bats to juice the bases, and Alyssa Woods dropped a RBI single into left field to make it a 3-0 affair.

KEY INNINGS (GAME 2)
BOT 1	Mercer used a hit, an ensuing error and a wild pitch to put a pair of runners into scoring position, and followed that up with consecutive RBI singles from Tori Hedgecock and Kassidy Moore to tack up more than enough offense on the left field scoreboard.
BOT 4	The Bears used a 1-out single, a fielder's choice and an ill-timed error to load the bases with its first four at-bats and set the table for Tori Hedgecock who leaned into a 1-strike offering and blasted it to straightaway centerfield.

MU LEADERS (GAME 1)	FU LEADERS (GAME 1)
Kassidy Moore 1-2, HR, 2 RBI Emma Dorval 1-2, BB, R Alyssa Woods 1-3, RBI Grace Taylor 7.0 IP, ER, 3 K	Ashlee Lykins 2-3 Hannah Poole 1-3, HR Ansley Chiang 1-3

MU LEADERS (GAME 2)	FU LEADERS (GAME 2)
Tori Hedgecock 2-3, BB, HR, 5 RBI Alyssa Woods 2-4, 2 R Kassidy Moore 2-4, RBI Hannah Pitts 7.0 IP, ER, 6 K	Kiley Perry 1-2, BB, HR Ashlee Lykins 1-3, BB Ansley Chiang 1-3

UP NEXT
The Bears will close out their weekend series with Furman on Sunday at Sikes Field. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. and admission is free.

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