Hedgecock, Taylor Named To Preseason All-SoCon Squad

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Preseason recognition was abundant for the Mercer softball team on Thursday afternoon when senior infielder Tori Hedgecock and junior right-hander Grace Taylor earned a spot on the Preseason All-Southern Conference squad, while the Bears were picked to finish third in the race for the regular season crown by the league's head coaches.

The announcement marked the second-straight year that Taylor has logged a spot on the preseason all-conference squad. The Debary, Fla., product appeared on the team last year along with the league's preseason pitcher of the year honor. It is the first preseason all-conference nod for Hedgecock.

Chattanooga was the overwhelming favorite to repeat as SoCon champions after reeling in six of the eight available first-place votes, while UNC Greensboro logged a first-place vote as well before nestling into the runner-up spot. Mercer, Samford and Wofford rounded out the top 5.

Points were awarded on an 8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis, and coaches were not permitted to vote for their own teams.

An 2024 all-region selection by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA), Hedgecock ranked 14^th among NCAA Division I sluggers with 0.36 home runs per game (15 total home runs), while also hitting .317 (46-for-145) with nine doubles, 53 RBI and 42 runs scored. The Valdosta native amassed 11 multiple-hit and 13 multiple-RBI performances along the way, and finished her junior campaign with a .772 slugging ad a .497 on-base percentage (1.269 OPS).

Taylor compiled a staff-best 10 victories (10-14) to go along with a 3.87 earned run average and 69 strikeouts in a team-high 132.0 innings pitched. She limited opponents to a paltry .260 batting average and struck out five or more batters four times, while also logging a pair of complete game victories in MU's series win over Furman.

The Bears will lift the lid on the program's 35^th season of intercollegiate softball next weekend, Feb. 7-9, when the Orange & Black takes on host duties for its annual Heart of Georgia Classic. MU will make its first appearance of the 3-day tournament on Friday at 6:30 p.m. when it battles Saint Joseph's at Sikes Field.

Hedgecock, Taylor Named To Preseason All-SoCon Squad

Players Mentioned

Tori Hedgecock

Grace Taylor

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