Mercer Rallies To Complete Weekend Sweep Of Furman

Sunday, April 7

Macon, Ga.

1 p.m.

Mercer University

18-19, 7-2

Furman

18-21, 3-6

Furman

Mercer

Mercer Rallies To Complete Weekend Sweep Of Furman

4/7/2024 6:00:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Todd Anderson, anderson_t02@mercer.edu

MERCER – Visiting Furman used a messy 3-run first inning to fuel an early 4-0 advantage, but home-standing Mercer rallied all the way back with five unanswered runs, the last of which came on a wild pitch in the bottom of the ninth inning, to finish off a weekend sweep of the Paladins with a 5-4 win on Sunday at Sikes Field.

Sunday's decision marked the ninth win in the last 13 outings for the Bears (18-19, 7-2 SoCon) who moved to 12-4 at home this season with the result as well. Furman (18-21, 3-6) has now dropped five of the last six matchups in the all-time series with the Orange & Black, and fell to 3-12 in true road games this season with the setback as well.

Sophomore Grace Taylor (8-8) struck out four and allowed just two hits in seven innings of relief to pick up the win for the Bears. Sophomore Avery Barton hit a key 2-run homer for MU in the sixth, while junior Tori Hedgecock got the scoring started on her school record-breaking 17^th long ball of the season in the fourth inning.

GAME SUMMARY
FINAL	Mercer 5, Furman 4 (9 Innings)
PITCHERS	WP: Grace Taylor (8-8) LP: Lauralee Scott (7-4)
RECORDS	Mercer 18-19 (7-2 SoCon); Furman 18-21 (3-6 SoCon)

KEY INNINGS
TOP 2	Furman put its first two runners aboard and shook off a double play moments later when Sylvia Burroughs clubbed a run-scoring single to centerfield that gave the Paladins a 4-0 lead.
BOT 7	Laura Vigna hit a seeing-eye single through the right side to lead off the frame, and Alyssa Woods followed by hammering a ball to the wall in left field for what turned out to be a game-tying triple.
BOT 9	The Bears used an error and a pair of walks to load the bases with their first three at-bats, and eventually plated the game-winning run two at-bats later on an ill-timed wild pitch.

MU LEADERS	FU LEADERS
Avery Barton 2-4, HR, 2 RBI Alyssa Woods 2-4, BB, 3B, RBI Tori Hedgecock 1-3, 2 BB, HR Grace Taylor 7.0 IP, 2 H, 4 K	Caitlin Goldwait 2-4, HBP, 2 R Sylvia Burroughs 1-2, BB, HBP, R Ashlee Lykins 1-4, BB, R

UP NEXT
Mercer will take to the road again on Wednesday when they travel to central Alabama for a rematch with Troy (27-15) at the Troy Softball Complex. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. ET. The Trojans tallied a 3-1 win over MU in extra innings earlier this season as part of the Mercer Bears Invitational.

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