Saturday, March 29
Macon, Ga.
1 p.m.
Mercer University
vs
Chattanooga
Bears Return Home, Face Chattanooga In Key SoCon Series
3/28/2025 6:00:00 AM | Softball
MACON – The Mercer softball team will make its first home appearance in two weeks this weekend when the Bears bunker down to host a key Southern Conference series with visiting Chattanooga at Sikes Field.
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The league rivals will open up their weekend set with a 1 p.m. Saturday afternoon doubleheader, and close out the series with a Sunday single dip at 1 p.m. Admission to all three games is free.
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Fans unable to make the trip to Middle Georgia can still follow all of the games for free via live statistics links provided by the MU athletics department. Sunday's series finale is also scheduled to be streamed live on ESPN+.
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The Bears (18-16, 1-2 SoCon) have now won two-straight games after trekking to Atlanta on Tuesday and coming back with an 8-5 upset win over their Atlantic Coast Conference rivals. Mercer pounded out a dozen hits in the twilight tilt and hit .357 with runners in scoring position on the way to registering its first win over the Yellow Jackets since the 2013 campaign.
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Offense has been the key to success over the last nine games for the Orange & Black who has registered a .296 team batting average across that span while scoring more than six runs per game. The Bears have, quarce, turned in double-digit hit totals over the last nine games, while also scoring six or more runs five times as well. Infielders Hallie Langford (.484) and Hannah Rivers (.444), as well as catcher Sietske Drijvers (.438), have all registered a .400 or better clip at the plate over the last two weeks, while senior Tori Hedgecock has clubbed a trio of home runs and accounted for a dozen RBI.
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The Orange & Black will tote the SoCon's fourth-best team earned run average into the weekend, and has limited opponents to a paltry .275 batting average through 34 games. Redshirt junior Hannah Pitts (5-4, 2.95 ERA) and sophomore Gabby Pitts (5-3, 2.41) are both among the SoCon's top 10 leaders in ERA, with Pitts holding opponents to an impressive .216 batting average across 15 appearances and 54-2/3 innings pitched.
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The league rivals will open up their weekend set with a 1 p.m. Saturday afternoon doubleheader, and close out the series with a Sunday single dip at 1 p.m. Admission to all three games is free.
Â
Fans unable to make the trip to Middle Georgia can still follow all of the games for free via live statistics links provided by the MU athletics department. Sunday's series finale is also scheduled to be streamed live on ESPN+.
Â
The Bears (18-16, 1-2 SoCon) have now won two-straight games after trekking to Atlanta on Tuesday and coming back with an 8-5 upset win over their Atlantic Coast Conference rivals. Mercer pounded out a dozen hits in the twilight tilt and hit .357 with runners in scoring position on the way to registering its first win over the Yellow Jackets since the 2013 campaign.
Â
Offense has been the key to success over the last nine games for the Orange & Black who has registered a .296 team batting average across that span while scoring more than six runs per game. The Bears have, quarce, turned in double-digit hit totals over the last nine games, while also scoring six or more runs five times as well. Infielders Hallie Langford (.484) and Hannah Rivers (.444), as well as catcher Sietske Drijvers (.438), have all registered a .400 or better clip at the plate over the last two weeks, while senior Tori Hedgecock has clubbed a trio of home runs and accounted for a dozen RBI.
Â
The Orange & Black will tote the SoCon's fourth-best team earned run average into the weekend, and has limited opponents to a paltry .275 batting average through 34 games. Redshirt junior Hannah Pitts (5-4, 2.95 ERA) and sophomore Gabby Pitts (5-3, 2.41) are both among the SoCon's top 10 leaders in ERA, with Pitts holding opponents to an impressive .216 batting average across 15 appearances and 54-2/3 innings pitched.
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| SERIES HISTORY |
| Chattanooga leads the all-time series, 33-31, but Mercer has captured 18 of the last 25 matchups in the series, including two wins in Chattanooga, Tenn., last season. The Bears are 15-13 all-time against the Mocs in Macon, and have won the last five contests with UTC at Sikes Field. |
| SCOUTING CHATTANOOGA |
| The Mocs (22-9, 2-1) have won 20 of their last 22 games, including a home series win against UNC Greensboro last weekend. Chattanooga dropped the final game of its weekend set with the Spartans, but rebounded with a 1-0 victory at Tennessee Tech on Tuesday. Â Look no further than the circle when trying to unlock the key to Chattanooga's success this season. UTC's four-armed staff has combined to register an impressive 3.11 team earned run average though 31 games, and has yielded just 5.7 hits per game in the process as well. SoCon Preseason Pitcher of the Year Peja Goold (12-4, 1.76) has lived up to the hype by striking out 118 batters in 91-1/3 innings of work, and has limited opponents to a miniscule .164 batting average. Junior Taylor Long (7-0, 2.78) is unbeaten in 15 appearances and, she too, has held opponents below a .200 (.192) batting clip. Â UTC's offense has been effective as well. The Mocs have compiled a .298 team batting average so far this season, and rank 1st or 2nd among league squads in nine other offensive statistical categories as well. Senior outfielder Camryn Cernuto boasts a team-best .381 batting average with 10 RBI, a dozen stolen bases and 24 runs scored, but four other Mocs carry a batting average at the .300 plateau or better. Senior infielder Acelynn Sellers leads the club with seven round-trippers and 28 RBI. |
| UP NEXT FOR THE BEARS |
| Mercer will open up a four-game road trip on Wednesday when it makes the short hop to Athens to take on 15th-ranked Georgia (24-8) at Jack Turner Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. |
| STAY CONNECTED |
| Follow Mercer Softball on Twitter and Instagram and "Like" Mercer Softball on Facebook. |
| 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 SupportMAF.com or email maf@mercer.edu. |
Players Mentioned
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/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
INF
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