Mercer Squares Off With Georgia Southern On Wednesday In Macon

MACON – The Mercer softball team will close out its season-opening 10-game home stand on Wednesday when the Bears bunker down to take on instate rival Georgia Southern at Sikes Field. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. and admission is free.

Fans unable to make the trip to Middle Georgia can still follow all of the action for free via a live statistics link provided by the MU athletics department. The game is also scheduled to be broadcast live by MercerVision (ESPN+) with Luke Winstel and Isaiah Efojie calling all of the action.

ABOUT THE GAME
Date: Wednesday, February 18 Time: 6 p.m. ET Location: Macon, Ga. I Sikes Field TV: ESPN+ Live Statistics: MercerBears.com/Live Twitter Updates: @MercerUSoftball

ADMISSION
Admission is free to all home non-tournament games at Sikes Field during the 2026 season.

LAST TIME OUT
Mercer used a 5-run third inning and a phenomenal complete game effort from newcomer Grace McKillop to outlast Army in their opening game of the day, but fell victim to an offensive outburst in an abbreviated loss to Western Kentucky in the final game of the MUSB Invitational I on Saturday evening at Sikes Field. The Bears finished their second of three home February tournaments with a 2-2 clip, including a win over Western Kentucky in Friday's action.

ABOUT MERCER
The Bears (7-2) registered a perfect run through their season-opening Heart of Georgia Classic to register a 5-0 mark for the first time in 27 years, and then split a pair of games at last weekend's MUSB Invitational to maintain their best start since the 2018 club captured 12 of its first 15 outings to open the season. The Bears boast NCAA's 17^th-best home runs per game (1.67) number, while also pacing the 8-team Southern Conference in eight other statistical categories including hits (50), home runs (15), RBI (65) and runs scored (71). Redshirt freshman Rachel Sysum paces the Orange & Black with a .440 (11-for-25) batting clip, while Grace Jones shows a team-best 10 RBI to go along with a 1.221 OPS. Junior newcomer Grace McKillop has already earned a trio of victories for the Bears from the circle, including triumphs over Army and Western Kentucky over the weekend.

SCOUTING GEORGIA SOUTHERN
The Eagles (3-6) tallied a 3-2 mark in their season-opening Bash In The Boro, including victories over UNC Greensboro (twice) and Eastern Illinois, but went 0-for-4 at last weekend's Bama Bash, falling twice to both Liberty and Purdue. Georgia Southern ranks among the 12-team Sun Belt Conference's top 3 squads in a handful of statistical categories, and will roll into Macon boasting seven double plays (9^th NCAA) turned in 2026 already. Junior shortstop Delanie Thames carries team-best offensive numbers nearly across the board, including a .393 batting average that complements seven extra-base hits (3 HR) and 10 RBI. Two other players – senior outfielder Emma Davis (.346) and junior second baseman Kayla Christensen (.310) – carry batting averages north of .300 as well. Senior right-hander Bailey Holland leads GSU in both wins (2), ERA (1.75) and strikeouts (13) amid a team-best 24.0 innings pitched. Freshman southpaw Shaylin Stringer is 1-1 with a 2.55 ERA, but has held opponents to a paltry .250 batting average in 11.0 innings pitched.

MERCER/GEORGIA SOUTHERN SERIES
Georgia Southern leads the all-time series, 53-19, but Mercer won both ends of the season series with the Eagles last season by 4-2 scores. The Bears are 14-31 all-time against GSU in Macon, but have won four of the last seven matchups with the Eagles at Sikes Field since 2013.

ON DECK
Mercer will venture away from Macon for the first time this weekend when it heads to Birmingham, Ala., for the UAB-hosted Green and Gold Classic. The Bears are scheduled for a trio of top 25 matchups at the 3-day, round-robin event including a pair of games against 25^th-ranked Ole Miss. The Orange & Black is also slated to battle top-ranked Tennessee on Saturday evening.

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*.

Mercer Squares Off With Georgia Southern On Wednesday In Macon

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Players Mentioned

Grace Jones

Grace McKillop

Rachel Sysum

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