Bears Open SoCon Play With Series At Samford

MACON – The Mercer softball team will ride its best start in seven years into Birmingham, Ala., this weekend when the Bears lift the lid on the Southern Conference portion of their 2025 regular season schedule with a three-game series against Samford.

The squads will open the series with a 2 p.m. ET doubleheader on Saturday at the Samford Softball Field, and will close out the weekend with a 2 p.m. single dip on Sunday. Fans unable to make the trip to the Heart of Dixie can still follow all of the action for free via live statistics links provided by the SU athletics department. All three games are slated to be streamed live on ESPN+ as well.

The Bears (16-14, 0-0 SoCon) accentuated a season sweep of West Georgia with an 11-4 win over the Wolves on Wednesday in Carrollton. Mercer tallied 10 or more hits for the third time in the last five games in the rout, including six base knocks with runners in scoring position. The Bears got solid outings from the circle as well, including the season debut of Preseason All-SoCon right-hander Grace Taylor who struck out two in an inning of relief.

Mercer's offense has carried the hot bat as of late, registering a .317 batting average and a .424 on-base percentage across its last four outings, while also scoring nearly six runs per game. Senior Tori Hedgecock (.533) and junior Hallie Langford (.529) have both compiled averages above the .500 mark across that span, but three other starters in MU's batting order have hit .333 or better as well.

The Bears will also tote a solid pitching staff into the weekend as well. Mercer sports the SoCon's fourth-lowest team earned run average (3.78) through 30 outings, while also showing an impressive strikeout-to-walk ratio of 1.79. MU's seven-armed staff has combined to yield just 2.6 walks per 7 innings in 2025, and has held opponents to a respectable .284 batting clip.

SERIES HISTORY

Samford leads the all-time series, 55-34-1, and has captured 11 of the last 12 matchups with Mercer heading into the weekend. The Bears snapped a nine-game series skid with a 7-5 in last year's series opener at Sikes Field.

SCOUTING SAMFORD

The Bulldogs (18-12, 0-0 SoCon) have dropped five of their last seven games, including setbacks to both Iowa State and 21^st-ranked Ole Miss on Friday at the UM-hosted Rebel Invitational. Samford did register a pair of wins at that event, however, throttling North Dakota State 12-6 and 13-2.

Samford's success this season has run through a batting order that is listed second among SoCon schools with a .309 batting average while ranking 14th, nationally, with 52 doubles (1.73/game). SU's offense ranks among the nation's top-50 schools in nine offensive categories, while also scoring nearly six runs per game. Sophomore designated player Olivia Shaw paces the potent offensive attack with a team-best .391 batting average that complements four home runs and a SoCon-best 32 RBI.

From the circle, the Bulldogs show the league's fifth-best team ERA (4.15) and boast a staff that has limited opponents to a .267 batting clip. However, Samford has surrendered nearly 3.5 walks per game (3.8 walks/7 innings). Senior Jordyn Partain (7-7, 4.00 ERA) leads the five-armed staff in both appearances (13) and innings pitched (71.2) so far this season.

UP NEXT FOR THE BEARS

Following this weekend's action in Alabama, the Bears will step back out of Southern Conference play on Wednesday when they travel to Atlanta to take on Georgia Tech (17-11) at Shirley Clements Mewborn Field. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.

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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

Tori Hedgecock

Hallie Langford

Grace Taylor

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