Bears Split On Opening Day Of MUSB Invitational I

Friday, February 13

Macon, Ga.

3 p.m.

Mercer University

Western Kentucky

Mercer

Bears Split On Opening Day Of MUSB Invitational I

2/13/2026 9:14:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Todd Anderson, anderson_t02@mercer.edu

MACON – The Mercer softball team moved to 6-0 for the first time in program history with a 12-9 comeback win in Friday's opener with Western Kentucky, but fell victim to a 4-run first inning on the way to a 10-2 setback to Iowa on opening-day action at the MUSB Invitational I.

The Bears (6-1) still combined for 17 hits and 14 runs in Friday's action at Sikes Field, including a trio of multi-run frames. Iowa (5-2) finished Friday with a perfect 2-0 record, while Western Kentucky (5-3) suffered its second and third losses of the young season.

SUMMARY
GAME 1 FINAL	Mercer 12, Western Kentucky 9
PITCHERS	WP: Grace McKillop (2-0) LP: Rylan Smith (0-1) Save: Grace Jones (1)

GAME 2 FINAL	Iowa 10, Mercer 2 (6 Innings)
PITCHERS	WP: Serayah Neiss LP: Grace Roark (2-1)

RECORDS	Mercer 6-1, Iowa 5-2; Western Kentucky 5-3

KEY INNINGS (VS. WESTERN KENTUCKY)
BOT 3	Mercer quickly erased a 3-1 deficit by sending a dozen batters to the plate in a monstrous 8-run third inning that gave it the lead for good. Megan Loughren (single), Meredith Wayland (double) and Daniella Monaco (triple) all provided multi-RBI knocks to key the outburst.

KEY INNINGS (VS. IOWA)
TOP 1	Tory Bennett led off the game with a solo homer to get things started in a 4-run first inning for the Hawkeyes. Brianna Johnson hit a 2-out, 2-run single to make it a 3-0 game later in the frame, and Kiara Sipe stole home to cap the big inning.

MU LEADERS (GAME 1)	WKU LEADERS (GAME 1)
Daniella Monaco 2-4, 3B, 2 RBI Rachel Sysum 2-4, 2B, RBI Rachel Sysum 2-4, 2B, RBI Grace Jones 2-4, R	Jenna Blanton 3-3, 2 BB, 2 R Annie White 1-3, BB, HR, 3 RBI Morgan Shape 2-4, 2B, 3B, 2 RBI Kennedy Stinson 2-4, BB, 2B

MU LEADERS (GAME 2)	UI LEADERS (GAME 2)
Rachel Sysum 2-3, 2B Grace Jones 1-3, 2B, 2 RBI Meredith Wayland 1-1, BB, R Daniella Monaco 1-3, R	Tory Bennett 2-4, HR, 2 R McKenzie Leitgen 2-4, HR Kiara Sipe 1-2, HR, 2 R Braylen Conlon ND, 3.2 IP, H, 0 R, 2 K

UP NEXT
Mercer is scheduled for two more games at the MUSB Invitational on Saturday at Sikes Field. The Bears will lock horns with Army at 3 p.m. before diving into a rematch with Western Kentucky at 5:30 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 email *maf@mercer.edu*.

Unbeaten Bears Host MUSB Invitational I This Weekend

Thursday, February 12

Starr Nabs SoCon Pitcher Of The Week Honors

Monday, February 09

Bears Finish Off Unblemished Weekend, Rout North Carolina A&T

Sunday, February 08

Mercer Toughs Out Two More Wins At Heart Of Georgia Classic

Saturday, February 07

Next Event

Army

Feb 14 (Sat)

3 p.m.

Preview Live stats

0Days

0Hours

0Minutes

0Seconds

Full Schedule

Team Stats

Western Kentucky

Batting:

2B: Stinson, Kennedy 1 ; Sharpe, Morgan 1

3B: Sharpe, Morgan 1

HR: White, Annie 1

RBI: White, Annie 3 ; Herron, Charotte 1 ; White, Kendle 2 ; Mauck, Anna 1 ; Sharpe, Morgan 2

SH: Herron, Charotte 1

SF: White, Annie 1 ; White, Kendle 1

Base Running:

RUNS: Satterly, Lauren 1 ; White, Annie 2 ; Stinson, Kennedy 1 ; Blanton, Jenna 2 ; Murphy, Katie 1 ; Sharpe, Morgan 2

SB: Satterly, Lauren 1 ; Blanton, Jenna 2

Mercer

Batting:

2B: Wayland, Meredith 1 ; Sysum, Rachel 1

3B: Monaco, Daniella 1

RBI: Monaco, Daniella 2 ; Wayland, Meredith 2 ; Loughren, Megan 3 ; Sysum, Rachel 1 ; Taylor, Jessie 1 ; Fernandez, Isabel 2

Base Running:

RUNS: Sanchez, Mariyah 1 ; Jones, Grace 1 ; Monaco, Daniella 1 ; Lenzen, Olivia 2 ; Wayland, Meredith 1 ; Barton, Avery 2 ; Loughren, Megan 1 ; Sysum, Rachel 1 ; Taylor, Jessie 1 ; Fernandez, Isabel 1