Bears Stave Off Elimination, Advance To Championship Saturday

Friday, May 9

Spartanburg, S.C.

1 p.m.

Mercer University

35-24

UNC Greensboro

39-18

Mercer

UNC Greensboro

Bears Stave Off Elimination, Advance To Championship Saturday

5/9/2025 9:50:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Todd Anderson, anderson_t02@mercer.edu

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Fifth-seeded Mercer tacked up crooked numbers in three different frames to fuel a 7-3 win over second-seeded UNC Greensboro, and then scored early and often in a 13-5 shellacking of third-seeded Samford, as the Bears staved off elimination for the second-straight day to punch their ticket to Saturday's championship round at the Southern Conference Tournament.

It was the 16^th and 17^th wins in the last 20 outings for the Bears (36-24) who have registered a 5-1 mark over the last three days at the SoCon Tournament. The Orange & Black have now posted three-straight wins over the Spartans (39-18) for the first time in the 26-year-old history of the series. The Bears have also now posted consecutive wins over Samford (33-23) for the first time since 2015 – MU's first season as a member of the SoCon.

Redshirt junior Katheryn Rearley (7-4) struck out two and scattered seven hits across five innings in from the circle against UNC Greensboro to post her fifth-straight win in as many appearances. Grace Taylor (4-2) yielded just four hits in four scoreless innings of relief to pick up the win against Samford. She also struck out two Bulldogs.

SUMMARY
GAME 1 FINAL	Mercer 7, UNC Greensboro 3
PITCHERS	WP: Katheryn Rearley (7-2) LP: Jorde Chartrand (10-8)

GAME 2 FINAL	Mercer 13, Samford 5
PITCHERS	WP: Grace Taylor (4-2) LP: Karley Fuller (0-3)

RECORDS	Records: Mercer 36-24; UNC Greensboro 39-18; Samford 33-23

KEY INNINGS (VS. UNC GREENSBORO)
TOP 1	Hallie Langford led off the afternoon with a single to the left side and gave the Bears the lead for good two batters later when she scurried across home plate thanks to Tori Hedgecock's triple to the gap in right field.
BOT 2	UNC Greensboro sliced its deficit in half in the second inning, getting Macy Michael aboard via a leadoff double, and then capitalizing on the scoring opportunity with Laney Deane's sacrifice fly to left field.
TOP 4	Sydney Harris reached base safely via bean ball to start the fourth and the Bears stretched their advantage out to three runs, 4-1, five pitches later on a 2-run blast from KiKi Daniels.

KEY INNINGS (VS. SAMFORD)
TOP 1	Mercer drew a trio of walks in its first four at-bats, and then took the lead for good when Sydney Harris drew a 5-pitch walk to force in a run. KiKi Daniels hit a grand slam in the ensuing at-bat to hand the Bears a quick 5-0 advantage.
BOT 4	Linsey Hargis doubled to lead off the frame, and then scored minutes later via a costly throwing error by the Bears. Samford pulled to within three runs, 7-4, on Addison Smith's RBI double off of the wall in centerfield amid the ensuing at-bat, and eventually constricted the deficit even further on Olivia Shaw's 2-out RBI double later in the inning.
TOP 6	Tori Hedgecock (walk) and Grace Jones (single) both reached to start the inning for the Orange & Black who padded its lead out to four runs, 9-5, on an ill-timed throwing error by the Bulldogs. Emma Dorval tacked up a pair of insurance runs two batters later on a 2-run single to the gap in right field.

MU LEADERS (GAME 1)	UNCG LEADERS (GAME 1)
Hallie Langford 2-5, 2 R Laura Vigna 2-3, HBP, R Tori Hedgecock 1-3, BB, 3B, RBI KiKi Daniels 1-4, HR, 2 RBI	Kaylyn Belfield 4-4, R Jessie Shipley 1-4, 2B, RBI, R Laney Deane 1-2, RBI Macy Michael 1-3, 2B, R

MU LEADERS (GAME 2)	SU LEADERS (GAME 2)
KiKi Daniels 3-4, HR, 5 RBI, 2 R Hannah Rivers 2-4, BB, 2B, 2 RBI, R Laura Vigna 2-4 Tori Hedgecock 1-4, BB, HR	Linsey Hargis 2-4, 2B, R Grier Bruce 2-4, 2B Katie Campbell 1-4, 2 RBI Addison Smith 1-1, 2B, RBI

UP NEXT
The Bears will take on top-seeded Chattanooga (41-13) in the championship round of the Southern Conference Tournament on Saturday at Wofford's Hope Field. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. An MU win in the 1 p.m. contest will force a winner-take-all championship game at 4 p.m.

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