Bears Host West Georgia On Wednesday

MACON – The Mercer softball team will wrap up a season-opening five-game home stand on Wednesday when the Bears lace up to do battle with West Georgia at Sikes Field. First pitch is slated for 5 p.m. and admission is free.

Fans unable to make the trip to Middle Georgia can still follow the game in progress for free via a live statistics link provided by the MU athletics department.

The Bears (2-2) split four games at their season-opening Heart of Georgia Classic over the weekend, defeating both Florida A&M and Austin Peay on Saturday, while bookmarking the weekend with tight losses to Saint Joseph's. MU's six-armed pitching staff combined to register an impressive 2.25 team earned run average across the three-day tournament, with both junior Hannah Pitts and freshman Grace Jones picking up wins. The Bears yielded just nine earned runs across their four-game run.

Senior Tori Hedgecock, D1Softball.com's preseason pick for Southern Conference Player of the Year honors, will lead the charge into Wednesday's game against West Georgia after compiling a .375 (3-for-8) tally across the Heart of Georgia Classic, including three extra-base hits. Hedgecock homered twice in Mercer's come-from-behind win over Austin Peay on Saturday, highlighted by a go-ahead grand slam in the bottom of the sixth frame.

Rookie KiKi Daniels showed out in her Mercer debut as well, compiling a .333 (3-for-9) batting average with three RBI and a pair of runs scored. She hit her first collegiate home run in MU's Sunday setback to Saint Joseph's.

SERIES HISTORY

Although facing one another in a handful of fall exhibition contests in years prior, Wednesday's matchup will mark the first official meeting between Mercer and West Georgia.

SCOUTING WEST GEORGIA

A first-year NCAA Division I squad, West Georgia (3-1) tallied a trio of victories at the Gardner-Webb-hosted Runnin' Bulldogs Classic on Friday and Saturday, including a 15-1 shellacking of Drexel that represented the squad's first NCAA Division I triumph. The Wolves had their season-opening three-game win streak snapped with a tough 5-3 setback to the host Bulldogs in their tournament finale late Saturday afternoon.

Four Wolves will roll into Macon sporting averages at or above the .400 mark, including senior catcher Blaire Bizette who went 7-for-11 (.636) with six RBI and a pair of runs scored in four starts at the Runnin' Bulldogs Classic. The lone home run for UWG over the weekend came off of the bat of senior first baseman Shelby Garrett.

Junior right-hander Calli Hardison handled a bulk of the duties from the circle for the Wolves in Boiling Springs, N.C., registering a 1-1 record and a 3.18 ERA in two starts. Sophomore Dixiana Sims, a Macon native, has logged two appearances for UWG as well, striking out seven batters in nine innings from the circle while also limiting opponents to a .206 batting clip. She picked up a complete game victory in UWG's win over Gardner-Webb on Friday.

UP NEXT FOR THE BEARS

Mercer will pack up its show for the first time this season when they head to Nashville, Tenn., this weekend to take part in the Tennessee State-hosted Roar City Invitational. Weather permitting, the Bears are scheduled for matchups with Stony Brook, Quinnipiac, Illinois and the host Tigers across the three-day tournament.

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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.

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Players Mentioned

KiKi Daniels

Tori Hedgecock

Grace Jones

Hannah Pitts

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