Raines Goes Yard Twice As Mercer Walks Off Bryant In Opener

Friday, March 13

Macon, Ga.

6 p.m.

Mercer University

11-12

Bryant

7-12

Bryant

Mercer

Raines Goes Yard Twice As Mercer Walks Off Bryant In Opener

3/13/2026 9:44:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

By: Todd Anderson, anderson_t02@mercer.edu

MACON – Freshman Cate Raines hit her first two collegiate home runs, including a 2-run walk-off homer in the bottom of the 10^th inning, to help home-standing Mercer down visiting Bryant, 8-6, in the weekend opener on Friday evening at Sikes Field.

The decision snapped a four-game skid for the Bears (11-12) who moved to 3-0 in extra-inning affairs this season with the result, while also posting their 11^th home win of the season as well. It was the seventh-straight loss for the Bulldogs (7-12) who fell to 1-12 away from Rhode Island.

Senior Katheryn Rearley struck out seven and yielded just three hits and a run in four innings of solid relief to pick up the win for the Orange & Black. Starter Grace Jones struck out seven in six innings from the circle, but was not awarded a decision.

GAME SUMMARY
FINAL	Mercer 8, Bryant 6 (10 Innings)
PITCHERS	WP: Katheryn Rearley (3-2) LP: Brooke Tracy (2-4) Save: None
RECORDS	Records: Mercer 11-12 (0-0 SoCon); Bryant 7-12 (0-0 AE)

KEY INNINGS
TOP 6	Bryant exploded for three runs on as many hits to take their second lead of the evening. Jaiden McKenna's 1-out RBI single pulled the visitors to within a run, 4-3, while Gabby Gesualdo's go-ahead single with two outs showing plated both McKenna and Arlisenny Rodriguez.
BOT 7	Avery Barton hit a 1-out double to get something going for the Bears, and Oliva Lenzen laced a 2-out, 2-strike single through the left side of the infield two batters later to even the score back up.
BOT 10	Olivia Lenzen found the gap in left field with the first at-bat in the bottom of the 10^th, and moved into scoring position on Meredith Wayland's sacrifice bunt one pitch later. Cate Raines hit a 2-run, walk-off blast on Bryant reliever Brooke Tracy's next offering to send the MU fans home happy.

MER LEADERS	BU LEADERS
Avery Barton 3-4, BB, 2B, HR, 3 RBI, 2 R Cate Raines 2-5, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 2 R Olivia Lenzen 2-5, RBI, R Megan Loughren 2-5, 2B, RBI	Bryce Clendenin 2-3, BB, HR, 2 RBI Jaiden McKenna 2-3, RBI, R Jaelynn Lee 2-5, R Gabby Gesualdo 1-3, SAC, 2 RBI

UP NEXT
The Bears will close out their series with visiting Bryant in a noon doubleheader on Saturday at Sikes Field. Admission is free.

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